LORIMER 


H.AROLDBtNDLu::iS 


<£1 


LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST, 


We  Were  in  the  Canon,  Shooting  Down  the  Mad  Rush 
of  a  Rapid  toward  Eternity. — rage  170. 


Lorimer 

of  the  Northwest 

/      HAROLD   BINDLOSS 

Author  of  By  Right  of  Purchase,  Etc. 

With  Frontispiece  By 

ALFRED  JAMES  DEWEY 

A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY 

Publishers                                         New  Tork 

Copyright,  1909,  by 
FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 


AH  rights  reserved 


January,  IQ09 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    The  First  Sowing 7 

II.    The  Church  Parade 16 

III.  "The  Land  of  Promise" 25 

IV.  An  Unpleasant  Apprenticeship 35 

V.    A  Bid  for  Fortune 46 

VI.    The  First  Crop 56 

VII.    Harvest  Home 66 

VIII.     Held  Up 77 

IX.    A  Reckoning 91 

X.    A  Forward  Policy 105 

XL    On  the  Railroad 117 

XII.    The  Unexpected 128 

XIII.  Advqcates  of  Temperance 138 

XIV.  The  Hired  Teamster 151 

XV.    Under  the  Shadow  of  Death 163 

XVI.    When  the  Waters  Rose 175 

XVII.    The  Return 184 

XVIII.    The  Opening  of  the  Line 195 

XIX.    A  Generous  Offer 209 

XX.    The  Return  to  the  Prairie 220 

XXI.    The  Stolen  Cattle 231 

XXII.    A  Race  with  Time 242 

XXIII.    On  the  Gold  Trail    .     .     , 253 


.805 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXIV.    The  Brink  of    Eternity 267 

XXV.    Ormond's  Last  Journey 280 

XXVI.    The  Trial 291 

XXVII.    The  Road  to  Dakota 305 

XXVIII.    The  Recall  of  Adam  Lee 316 

XXIX.  Concerning  the  Day  Spring  Mine  ....  326 

XXX.  Carrington  Asserts  His  Authority     .     .     .  340 

XXXI.    The  Deposed  Ruler 350 

XXXII.  The  New  Ruler  of  Carrington       ....  362 

XXXIII.    A  Bountiful  Harvest 375 


LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 


PROLOGUE 

Fairmead,  Western  Canada. 
TT  is  a  still,  hot  day  in  autumn,  and  there  is  a  droning 

of  mosquitoes  where  I  sit  by  an  open  window,  glancing 
alternately  out  across  the  Assiniboian  prairie  and  somewhat 
blankly  at  the  bundle  of  paper  before  me,  ready  to  begin 
this  story.  Its  telling  will  not  be  an  easy  matter,  but  one 
finds  idle  hours  pass  heavily  after  a  life  such  as  mine  has 
been,  and  since  the  bronco  blundering  into  a  badger-hole 
fell  and  broke  my  leg  the  surgeon  who  rode  forty  miles  to 
set  it  said  that  if  I  was  to  work  at  harvest  I  must  not  move 
before  —  and  the  harvest  is  already  near.  So  I  nibble  the 
pen  and  look  around  the  long  match-boarded  hall,  waiting 
for  the  inspiration  which  is  strangely  slow  in  coming,  while 
my  wife,  who  was  Grace  Carrington,  smiles  over  her  sewing 
and  suggests  that  it  is  high  time  to  begin. 

There  are  many  guns  on  the  wall  glistening  like  sar- 
dines with  oil  rubbed  well  in,  and  among  them  the  old 
Winchester  which  once  saved  us  from  starvation  in  British 
Columbia.  There  are  also  long  rows  of  painted  butterflies 
and  moths  whose  colors  pleased  Graced  fancy  when  I 
caught  them  in  the  sloos.  Sometimes  I  wonder  whether  she 
really  likes  that  kind  of  decoration,  or  merely  pinned  them 
to  the  wall  because  I  caught  them  for  her.  Then,  and  this 
is  my  own  fancy,  the  bit  of  the  horse  which  once  saved  her 
life  hangs  in  a  place  of  its  own  under  the  heads  of  the 
antelopes  and  the  forward  half  of  a  crane  with  which  a 
Winnipeg  taxidermist  has  travestied  nature.  There  are 
also  a  few  oil  paintings  and,  of  course,  some  furniture,  but  I 


2  PROLOGUE 

am  not  learned  in  such  matters,  and  know  only  that  it  cost 
me  many  dollars  when  I  brought  it  from  Toronto  on  one 
of  Grace's  birthdays,  and  I  have  never  regretted  the  invest- 
ment. 

No,  there  is  nothing  here  that  merits  much  comment, 
though  Fairmead  is  one  of  the  finest  homesteads  between 
the  Saskatchewan  and  the  Souris.  Then  as  I  gaze  with 
half-closed  eyes  through  the  open  window  the  memories 
awaken  and  crowd,  as  it  were,  upon  one  another.  Far  out 
on  the  rim  of  the  prairie  lies  a  silvery  haze,  through  which 
the  vault  of  azure  melts  into  the  dusty  whiteness  of  the 
grasses.  Then,  level  on  level,  with  each  slowly  swelling 
rise  growing  sharper  under  that  crystalline  atmosphere  the 
prairie  rolls  in,  broken  here  by  a  willow  copse  and  there  by 
a  straggling  birch  bluff,  while  a  belt  of  cool  neutral  shadow 
marks  the  course  of  a  deep-sunk  ravine.  At  first  sight  it 
is  all  one  glaring  sweep  of  white  and  gray,  but  on  looking 
closer  with  understanding  eyes  one  sees  the  yellow  and 
sage-green  of  tall  reeds  in  a  sloo,  the  glowing  lights  of  sun- 
bleached  buffalo  bones,  and  a  mingling  of  many  colors. 
where  there  is  wild  peppermint  or  flowers  among  the  grass. 
Then,  broad  across  the  foreground,  growing  tall  and  green 
in  a  few  moister  places,  and  in  others  changing  to  ochre 
and  coppery  red,  there  ripples,  acre  after  acre,  a  great  sea 
of  grain  whose  extent  is  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the  in- 
sular Briton. 

That,  at  least,  with  its  feathery  oat  tassels  and  stately 
heads  of  wheat,  is  a  picture  well  worth  looking  upon,  for 
there  are  few  places  in  the  world  where  one  may  see 
furrows  of  equal  length.  It  was  won  hardly,  by  much 
privation,  and  in  the  sweat  of  the  brow,  as  well  as  by  the 
favor  of  Providence,  as  Grace  would  say,  and  she  is  right 
in  most  things,  except  when  she  attempts  to  instruct  me 
in  stock  feeding,  for  we  hold  on  the  prairie  that  it  is  not  fair 


PROLOGUE  3 

to  place  all  the  burden  on  Providence.  Therefore  the 
settlers  who  succeed  cut  down  rations  and  work  double  tides 
to  help  themselves  in  time  of  adversity. 

Yes,  though  better  men  have  done  more  and  failed,  we 
worked  hard  enough  for  it,  Harry  Lorraine  and  I,  stinting 
ourselves  often  to  feed  the  stock  and  deal  justly  with  the 
soil,  until  at  last  the  ill-fortune  turned  and  the  kindly  earth 
repaid  us  a  hundred  fold  for  our  trust  in  it. 

Grace  partly  approves  of  the  foregoing,  for  she  laid  by 
her  sewing  to  read  the  loose  sheets  beside  me,  bending  down 
until  her  hair,  which  is  bronze-gold  with  the  sun  in  it,  just 
touched  my  own.  It  may  be  that  my  eyes  are  preju- 
diced, but  I  have  never  seen  a  woman  who  might  compare 
with  her.  Neither  has  her  comeliness  faded.  Instead,  it  has 
grown  even  more  refined  and  stately,  for  Grace  had  always 
a  queenly  way,  since  the  day  when  I  first  met  her,  the  fairest 
maid  —  I  think  so  now,  though  it  is  long  ago  —  that  ever 
trod  the  bleak  moorlands  of  eastern  Lancashire. 

Beyond  the  wheat  and  straggling  birches  I  can  see  the 
shingled  roofs  of  Harry's  dwelling.  We  have  long  been 
partners  —  all  the  Winnipeg  dealers  know  the  firm  of 
Lorimer  &  Lorraine,  and  how  they  send  their  wheat  in  by 
special  freight  train.  Then  there  is  a  stretch  of  raw  break- 
ing, and  the  tinkle  of  the  binders  rises  out  of  a  hidden  hol- 
low, as  tireless  arms  of  wood  and  steel  pile  up  the  sheaves  of 
Jasper's  crop  —  Jasper  takes  a  special  pride  in  forestalling 
us.  The  dun  smoke  of  a  smudge-fire  shows  that  Harry  is 
in  prairie  fashion  protecting  our  stock,  and  I  see  it  drifting 
eastward  across  the  dusty  plain,  with  the  cattle  seeking  shel- 
ter from  the  mosquitoes  under  it. 

The  management  of  a  farm  like  Fairmead  is  a  serious 
task,  even  when  there  are  two  to  do  it,  and  Grace  says  there 
are  weighty  responsibilities  attached.  How  many  toilers  in 
crowded  Europe  benefit  by  the  cheap  flour  we  send  them 


4  PROLOGUE 

I  do  not  know,  though  last  year  we  kept  the  Winnipeg 
millers  busy;  but  when,  in  conjunction  with  a  certain 
society,  we  opened  new  lands  and  homes  for  the  homeless 
poor  —  it  was  Grace's  pet  project  —  all  those  who  occupied 
them  were  not  thankful.  Some  also  stole  their  neighbors' 
chickens,  and  the  said  neighbors  abused  us.  Others  seemed 
more  inclined  to  live  on  one  another  than  to  wrest  a  living 
from  the  soil,  while  once  Macdonald  of  the  Northwest  Po- 
lice lodged  a  solemn  protest,  "  We'll  hold  ye  baith  re- 
sponsible for  the  depredations  o'  the  wastrels  who're  dis- 
turbing the  harmony  o'  this  peaceful  prairie." 

Still,  Harry  and  I  were  once  poor  enough  ourselves, 
and  with  Grace's  help  we  have  done  our  best  to  weed  out 
the  worthless  —  Harry  attends  to  this  —  and  encourage  the 
rest.  Very  many  bushels  of  seed-wheat  has  Grace  given 
them,  and  here  as  elsewhere  there  are  considerably  more  good 
than  bad,  while  already  a  certain  society  takes  to  itself  the 
credit  of  the  flourishing  Fairmead  colony.  Harry,  however, 
says  that  undeserved  prosperity  has  made  me  an  optimist. 
But  the  reader  will  wonder  how  I,  Ralph  Lorimer,  who 
landed  in  Canada  with  one  hundred  pounds'  capital,  became 
owner  of  Fairmead  and  married  Grace,  only  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Colonel  Carrington.  Well,  that  is  a  long  story, 
and  looking  back  at  the  beginning  of  it  instead  of  at  the 
sunlit  prairie  I  see  a  grimy  smoke-blackened  land  where 
gaunt  chimneys  stand  in  rows,  and  behind  it  the  bare  moors 
of  Lancashire.  Then  again  the  memories  change  like  the 
glasses  of  a  kaleidoscope,  and  I  sigh  as  I  remember  com- 
rades who  helped  us  in  our  necessity  and  who  now,  forgotten 
by  all  save  a  few,  sleep  among  the  snow-bound  ranges, 
under  the  bitter  alkali  dust,  and  deep  in  the  smoking  canons 
through  which  we  carried  the  new  steel  highway. 

Failures,  probably  their  friends  called  them  at  home,  but 
in  this  their  friends  were  wrong.     With  light  jest,  or  grim 


PROLOGUE  5 

silent  endurance,  they  played  out  the  lost  game  to  the 
bitter  end,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  a  great  country's, 
prosperity,  while  if  fate  or  fortune  has  favors  for  but  the 
few,  those  who  receive  them  should  remember  with  becom- 
ing humility  what  otherwise  they  might  have  been.  So  the 
past  comes  back,  struggle,  disappointment,  and  slow  success, 
at  last,  until  it  is  a  relief  when  Harry  Lorraine  strides 
laughing  in  and  Grace  fills  for  him  a  great  polished  horn 
of  cider. 

"  Here's  success  to  your  story !  Tell  them  simply  how 
we  live  and  work,  and  some  of  us,  the  best,  have  died  in 
this  land,"  he  says.  Then  he  raises  the  horn  high  toward 
the  rafters  and  I  know  his  meaning.  It  is  a  way  the  fore- 
runners of  civilization  —  axe-man,  paddle-man,  and  railroad 
shoveler  —  had,  and  he  did  it  in  memory  of  one  who  lies 
far  off  among  the  northern  snows.  Taking  up  the  weary 
pen  as  he  and  Grace  go  out  together  I  prepare  to  follow 
his  counsel,  telling  the  story  simply  and  as  it  happened  fronx 
the  beginning. 


LORIMER 
OF  THE  NORTHWEST 


CHAPTER  I 

THE   FIRST    SOWING 

TT  was  late  in  autumn,  and  the  heather  had  faded  into 
dingy  brown,  though  long  streaks  of  golden  fern  crept 
winding  down,  when  Grace  Carrington  first  talked  with 
me  of  the  Canadian  Dominion  on  the  bleak  slopes  of  Star- 
cross  Moor.  There  was  a  hollow  in  the  hillside  where  a 
few  pale-stemmed  birches  and  somber  firs  formed,  as  it 
were,  a  rampart  between  the  poor,  climbing  meadows  and 
the  waste  of  gorse  and  fern,  and  we  two  beneath  them 
seemed  utterly  alone  in  the  moorland  solitude. 

Grace  sat  on  a  lichened  boulder  with  the  sunlight  upon 
her,  gazing  down  across  the  levels  of  Lancashire.  I  was 
just  twenty  years  old,  and  she  seemed  the  incarnation  of  all 
that  was  fresh  and  good  in  early  womanhood.  Still,  it  was 
not  only  her  beauty  that  attracted  me,  though  she  was  the 
well-dowered  daughter  of  a  race  which  has  long  been  fa- 
mous for  fair  women,  but  a  certain  grave  dignity  that  made 
her  softly  spoken  wishes  seem  commands  that  it  would  be 
a  pleasure  to  obey.  Grace  was  nineteen  then,  and  she 
lived  in  Western  Canada  with  her  widowed  father,  Colonel 
Carrington,  who  had  made  himself  a  power  in  that  country. 
Yet  she  was  English  by  birth  and  early  training,  of  the 

7 


8  LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

fair-haired,  gray-eyed,  old  Lancashire  stock,  and  had  lost 
nothing  by  her  sojourn  on  the  prairie  as  youthful  mistress  of 
Carrington  Manor. 

The  land  which  ran  west  before  us  was  not  a  pleasant 
one.  Across  its  horizon  hung  a  pall  of  factory  smoke;  and 
unlovely  hamlets,  each  with  its  gaunt  pit-head  gear  and 
stark  brick  chimney,  sprinkled  the  bare  fields  between,  for 
hedgerows  were  scanty  and  fences  of  rusty  colliery  rope 
replaced  them.  Yet  it  was  a  wealthy  country,  and  bred 
keen-witted,  enterprising  men,  who,  uncouth  often  in  speech 
ar,d  txreaor,  possessed  an  energy  that  has  spread  their 
commerce  to  the  far  corners  of  the  earth.  That  day  the 
autumn  haze  wrapped  a  mellow  dimness  round  its  defects, 
but  Grace  Carrington  sighed  as  she  turned  toward  me. 

"  I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  go  home  again,"  she  said. 
"  Perhaps  I  miss  our  clear  sunshine,  but  here  everyone  looks 
careworn  in  your  dingy  towns,  and  there  are  so  many  poor. 
Besides,  the  monotony  of  those  endless  smoky  streets  op- 
presses me.  No,  I  should  not  care  to  come  back  to  Lan- 
cashire." 

Now,  the  words  of  a  young  and  winsome  woman  seldom 
fall  lightly  on  the  ears  of  a  young  man,  and  Grace  spoke 
without  affectation  as  one  accustomed  to  be  listened  to,  which 
was  hardly  surprising  in  the  heiress  of  Carrington.  As  it 
happened,  they  wakened  an  answering  echo  within  me. 
The  love  of  the  open  sky  had  been  handed  down  to  me 
through  long  generations  of  a  yeoman  ancestry,  and  yet 
fate  had  apparently  decreed  that  I  should  earn  my  bread  in 
the  counting-house  of  a  cotton-mill.  It  is  probable  that 
I  should  have  been  abashed  and  awkward  before  this  pa- 
trician damsel  in  a  drawing-room,  but  here,  under  the  blue 
lift,  with  the  brown  double-barrel  —  it  was  my  uncle's  new 
hammerless  —  across  my  knees,  and  the  speckled  birds  be- 
neath, I  felt  in  harmony  with  the  surroundings,  and  accord- 


THE  FIRST  SOWING  9 

ingly  at  ease.     I  was  born  and  bred  under  the  other  edge 
of  the  moor. 

"It  does  not  always  rain  here,  though  this  has  been  a 
wet  season,  and  trade  is  bad,"  I  said.  "  Will  you  tell  me 
about  Canada,  Miss  Carrington  ?  " 

Her  eyes  brightened  as  she  answered :  "  It  is  my  adopted 
country,  and  I  love  it.  Still  it  is  no  place  for  the  weak  and 
idle,  for  as  they  say  out  there,  we  have  no  room  for  any 
but  live  men  and  strong.  Yet,  I  never  saw  a  ragged 
woman  nor  heard  of  a  hungry  child.  All  summer  the  set- 
tlers work  from  dawn  to  dusk  under  the  clear  sunshine  of 
the  open  prairie,  paying  rent  to  no  one,  for  each  tills  his  own 
land,  and  though  there  are  drawbacks  —  drought,  hail,  and 
harvest-frost  —  they  meet  them  lightly,  for  you  see  neither 
anxious  faces  nor  bent  shoulders  there.  Our  people  walk 
upright,  as  becomes  free  men.  Then,  through  the  long 
winter,  when  the  snow  lies  firm  and  white,  and  the  wheat 
crop  has  been  hauled  in,  you  can  hear  the  jingling  sleigh 
teams  flit  across  the  prairie  from  homestead  to  homestead 
under  the  cloudless  blue.  The  settlers  enjoy  themselves  when 
their  work  is  done  —  and  we  have  no  drunkenness." 

She  ceased,  turning  an  eager  face  toward  me,  and  I  felt 
an  old  longing  increase.  It  was  the  inborn  love  of  a  fertile 
soil  —  and  that  wide  sunlit  country  seemed  to  call  me,  for 
my  father  had  been  the  last  of  a  long  family  to  hold  one  of 
the  extensive  farms  which  with  their  crumbling  feudal  halls 
may  yet  be  found  in  the  remoter  corners  of  Lancashire. 
Then,  asking  practical  questions,  I  wondered  as  Grace 
Carrington  answered,  because,  though  she  wore  the  stamp 
of  refinement  to  her  finger-tips,  she  knew  all  that  concerned 
the  feeding  of  stock,  and  the  number  of  bushels  that  might 
be  thrashed  from  an  acre  of  wheat.  I  knew  she  spoke  as 
one  having  experience,  for  I  had  been  taught  to  till  the 
soil,  and  only  entered  the  cotton-mill  when  on  my  father's 


10         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

death  it  was  found  that  his  weakness  for  horses  and  his  un- 
lucky experiments  had  rendered  it  impossible  that  I  should 
carry  on  the  farm.  So,  while  unobserved  the  sun  sank  low, 
I  listened  eagerly;  until  at  last  there  was  a  sound  of  foot- 
steps among  the  fern,  and  she  ceased,  after  a  glance  at  her 
watch.  But,  like  the  grain  she  spoke  of,  drilled  into  the 
black  Assiniboian  loam,  the  seed  had  been  sown,  and  in  due 
time  the  crop  would  ripen  to  maturity. 

A  man  came  out  from  the  birches,  a  handsome  man, 
glancing  about  him  with  a  look  of  indolent  good  humor  on 
his  face,  and  though  for  a  moment  Grace  Carrington 
seemed  displeased,  she  showed  no  sign  of  it  as  she  rose 
leisurely  to  meet  him. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  had  to  come  in  seach  of  me,  Geoffrey/' 
she  said ;  "  this  is  Mr.  Lorimer  —  Captain  Ormond.  I 
think  you  have  met  before.  I  lost  my  wTay,  and  he  kindly 
brought  me  across  the  moor.  I  have  been  telling  him  about 
Canada." 

The  newcomer  bowed  with  an  easy  indifference,  for 
which,  not  knowing  exactly  why,  I  disliked  him,  as  he  said, 
"  Don't  remember  that  pleasure  —  meet  so  many  people ! 
Canada  must  be  a  very  nice  place;  been  thinking  of  going 
out  there  myself  —  drive  oxen,  grow  potatoes,  and  that  kind 
of  thing,  you  know." 

He  glanced  at  Grace,  as  though  seeking  her  approval 
of  such  an  act  of  self-sacrifice;  but  the  girl  laughed  frankly 
as  she  answered,  "  I  can't  fancy  you  tramping  behind  the 
plow  in  a  jacket  patched  with  flour-bags,  Geoffrey;"  while, 
feeling  myself  overlooked,  and  not  knowing  what  to  say, 
I  raised  my  cap  and  awkwardly  turned  away.  Still,  look- 
ing back,  I  caught  the  waft  of  a  light  dress  among  the  fern, 
and  frowned  as  the  sound  of  laughter  came  down  the  wind. 
These  people  had  been  making  merry,   I   thought,   at  my 


THE  FIRST  SOWING  11 

expense,  though  I  had  fancied  Miss  Carrington  incapable 
of  such  ungenerous  conduct. 

In  this,  however,  I  misjudged  her,  for  long  afterward  I 
learned  that  Grace  was  laughing  at  the  stories  her  companion 
told  of  his  strange  experiences  with  sundry  recruits,  until 
presently  the  latter  said: 

"  She  stoops  to  conquer,  even  a  raw  Lancashire  lad.  I 
congratulate  you  on  your  judgment,  Grade.  There  is  some- 
thing in  that  untrained  cub  —  could  recognize  it  by  the 
steady,  disapproving  way  he  looked  at  me;  but  I  am  some 
kind  of  a  relative,  which  is  presumably  a  warrant  for  imper- 
tinence." 

Now  a  saving  sense  of  humor  tempered  Miss  Carrington's 
seriousness,  and  Geoffrey  Ormond  joined  in  her  merry 
laugh.  In  spite  of  his  love  of  ease  and  frivolous  badinage, 
he  was,  as  I  was  to  learn  some  day,  considerably  less  of  a 
good-natured  fool  than  it  occasionally  pleased  him  to  appear 
to  be. 

Meantime,  I  strode  homeward  with  the  fierce  longing 
growing  stronger.  I  hated  the  dingy  office  where  I  sat 
under  a  gas-jet  making  up  the  count  of  yarn;  and  yet  four 
weary  years  I  had  labored  there,  partly  because  I  had  to  earn 
my  bread  and  because  my  uncle  and  sole  guardian  greatly 
desired  I  should.  It  grew  dark  as  I  entered  the  valley 
which  led  to  his  house,  for  the  cotton-spinner  now  lived 
ten  miles  by  rail  from  his  mill,  and  the  sighing  of  the  pine 
branches  under  a  cold  breeze  served  to  increase  my  restless- 
ness. So  it  was  with  a  sense  of  relief  that  I  found  my  cousin 
Alice  waiting  in  a  cosy  corner  of  the  fire-lit  drawing-room. 
We  had  known  each  other  from  childhood,  and,  though  for 
that  very  reason  this  is  not  always  the  case,  we  were  the  best 
of  friends.  She  would  be  rich  some  day,  so  the  men  I  met 
in   her   father's  business  said;   but  if  Alice   Lorimer  ever 


12         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

remembered  the  fact,  it  made  but  little  difference  to  her. 
She  was  delicate,  slight,  and  homely,  with  a  fund  of  shrewd 
common-sense  and  a  very  kindly  heart,  whose  thoughts,  how- 
ever, she  did  not  always  reveal.  Now  she  sat  on  a  lounge 
before  the  fire,  with  the  soft  light  of  a  colored  lamp  falling 
upon  her,  while  a  great  embroidered  screen  shut  off  the  rest 
of  the  partly-darkened  room. 

"  I  have  been  waiting  for  you  with  the  tea  so  patiently, 
Ralph,"  she  said.  "  You  look  tired  and  moody  —  you  have 
been  out  on  the  moors  too  long.  See,  here  is  a  low  chair 
ready  just  inside  the  screen,  and  here  is  the  tea.  Sit  down 
and  tell  me  what  is  troubling  you." 

I  settled  myself  in  the  corner,  and  answered,  looking 
into  the  fire : 

"  You  were  always  kind  to  me,  Alice,  and  one  can  talk  to 
you.  Something  made  me  unsettled  to-day,  and  I  didn't 
care  about  the  birds,  though  I  got  a  plump  brace  for  you. 
Alice,  I  can't  help  thinking  that  these  brief  holidays,  though 
they  are  like  a  glimpse  of  Paradise  after  my  dingy  rooms 
in  that  sickening  town,  are  not  good  for  me.  I  am  only  a 
poor  clerk  in  your  father's  mill,  and  such  things  as  guns 
and  horses  are  out  of  my  sphere.  They  only  stir  up  useless 
longings.  So  I  return  on  Monday,  and  hardly  think  that  I 
shall  come  back  for  a  long  time." 

Alice  laughed  softly,  for  she  was  a  shrewd  young  person, 
then  she  laid  her  little  hand  restrainingly  on  my  arm,  before 
she  said: 

"  And  who  has  a  better  right  to  the  bay  horse  and  the  new 
hammerless  ejector  than  the  nephew  of  the  man  who  never 
uses  them?  Now,  I'm  guessing  at  a  secret,  but  it's  probable 
that  your  uncle  bought  that  gun  especially  for  you.  Ralph, 
you  are  getting  morbid  —  and  you  have  not  been  shooting 
all  day.  Did  you  meet  Miss  Carrington  on  the  moor 
again?  " 


THE  FIRST  SOWING  13 

Now  in  such  matters  I  was  generally  a  blunderer;  yet 
something  warned  me  that  my  answer  would  displease  Jier. 
I  could,  however,  see  no  way  of  avoiding  it,  and  when  I 
said  as  unconcernedly  as  I  could,  "  Yes,  and  talked  to  her 
about  Canada!  "  Alice  for  no  particular  reason  stooped  and 
dropped  a  thread  into  the  fire.  Then  lifting  her  head  she 
looked  at  me  steadily  when  I  continued,  with  some  hesita- 
tion: 

"  You  know  how  I  was  always  taught  that  in  due  time 
I  should  work  the  lands  of  Lindale  Hall,  and  how,  when 
we  found  on  my  father's  death  that  there  was  nothing  left, 
I  tried  the  cotton-mill.  Well,  after  four  years'  trial  I  like 
it  worse  than  I  did  at  the  beginning,  and  now  I  feel  that  I 
must  give  it  up.  I  am  going  back  to  the  soil  again,  even  if 
it  is  across  the  sea." 

Alice  made  no  answer  for  a  few  moments;  then  she 
said  slowly:  "Ralph  you  will  not  be  rash;  think  it  over 
well.  Now  tell  me  if  you  have  any  definite  plans  —  you 
know  how  I  always  used  to  advise  you  ?  " 

I  felt  I  needed  sympathy,  and  Alice  was  a  faithful  con- 
fidant, so  I  opened  my  heart  to  her,  and  she  listened  with 
patient  interest.  It  seemed  to  me  that  my  cousin  had 
never  looked  so  winsome  as  she  sat  close  beside  me  with  a 
slight  flush  of  color  in  her  usually  pale  face  where  the 
soft  lamplight  touched  it.  So  we  sat  and  talked  until 
Martin  Lorimer  entered  unobserved,  and  when,  on  hearing 
a  footstep,  I  looked  up  I  saw  that  he  was  smiling  with  what 
seemed  grim  approval  as  his  eyes  rested  on  us,  and  this 
puzzled  me.  Then  his  daughter  started  almost  guiltily  as 
he  said,  "  I  wondered  where  you  two  were.  Dinner  has 
been  waiting,  and  you  never  heard  the  bell." 

I  retired  early  that  night,  and,  being  young,  forgot  my 
perplexities  in  heavy  slumber.  The  next  morning  I  no- 
ticed that  Alice's  eyes  seemed  heavy,  and  I  wondered  what 


14        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

could  be  the  reason.  In  after  years  I  mentioned  it  when 
Grace  and  I  were  talking  about  old  times  together,  but  she 
only  smiled  gravely,  and  said,  "  I  sometimes  think  your 
cousin  was  too  good  for  this  world.,, 

The  next  day  was  one  of  those  wet  Sundays  which  it  is 
hard  to  forget.  The  bleak  moor  was  lost  in  vapor,  and  a 
pitiless  drizzle  came  slanting  down  the  valley,  while  the  raw 
air  seemed  filled  with  falling  leaves.  A  prosperous  man 
with  a  good  conscience  may  make  light  of  such  things,  but 
they  leave  their  own  impression  on  the  poor  and  anxious ;  so, 
divided  between  two  courses,  I  wandered  up  and  down,  find- 
ing rest  nowhere  until  I  chanced  upon  a  large  new  atlas  in 
my  uncle's  library.  Martin  Lorimer  was  proud  of  his 
library.  He  was  a  well-read  man,  though  like  others  of  his 
kind  he  made  no  pretense  at  scholarship,  and  used  the  broad, 
burring  dialect  when  he  spoke  in  his  mill.  Here  I  found 
occupation  studying  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  especially  the 
prairie  territories,  and  lost  myself  in  dreams  of  half-mile 
furrows  and  a  day's  ride  straight  as  the  crow  flies  across 
a  cattle  run,  all  of  which,  though  I  scarcely  dared  hope  it 
then,  came  true  in  its  own  appointed  time. 

My  uncle  had  ridden  out  early,  for  he  was  to  take  part 
in  the  new  mayor's  state  visit  to  church  in  the  manu- 
facturing town,  and  even  Alice  seemed  out  of  spirits,  so 
when  I  left  the  library  there  was  the  weary  afternoon  to  be 
dragged  through  somehow.  It  passed  very  slowly,  and  then 
as  I  stood  by  the  stables  a  man  from  the  house  at  the  further 
end  of  the  valley,  where  Colonel  Carrington  was  staying, 
said  to  our  stable  lad : 

"  I  mun  hurry  back.  Our  folks  are  wantin'  t'  horses ; 
maister  an'  t'  Colonel's  daughter's  going  to  the  church 
parade.  They're  savin'  it's  a  grand  turnout,  wi'  t'  firemen> 
bands,  an'  t'  volunteers,  in  big  brass  helmets !  " 


THE  FIRST  SOWING  15 

Neither  of  them  saw  me,  and  presently  calling  the  lad 
I  bade  him  put  the  bay  horse  into  the  dog-cart. 

"  He's  in  a  gradely  bad  temper/'  said  the  lad  doubtfully. 
"  Not  done  nothink  but  eat  for  a  long  time  now,  an'  he 
nearly  bit  a  piece  out  of  me;  I  wish  t'  maister  would  shoot 
him." 

I  laughed  at  the  warning,  though  I  had  occasion  to 
remember  it,  and  looking  for  Alice  I  said,  "I  am  driving 
in  to  church  to-night.     Would  you  like  to  come  with  me?  " 

Now  Alice  Lorimer  possessed  her  father's  keen  percep- 
tion, and  when  he  kept  his  temper  he  was  perhaps  the 
shrewdest  man  I  ever  met;  so  when  she  looked  me  straight 
in  the  face  I  dropped  my  eyes,  because  I  really  was  not 
anxious  for  her  company,  and  should  not  have  gone  except 
in  the  hope  of  seeing  Grace  Carrington. 

"  Have  you  turned  religious  suddenly,  Ralph?  "  she  asked. 
"  Or  have  you  forgotten  you  told  me  yesterday  that  you 
did  not  care  to  go?  " 

I  made  some  awkward  answer,  but  Alice  smiled  dryly, 
and  with  a  solemn  courtesy  said: 

Two  are  company,  three  are  none.  Cousin  Ralph,  I 
will  not  go  with  you.  But  don't  leave  the  dog-cart  behind 
and  come  back  with  the  shafts." 

I  went  out  with  a  flushed  face,  and  a  sense  of  relief, 
angry,  nevertheless,  that  she  should  read  my  inmost  thoughts, 
having  fancied  that  my  invitation  was  a  stroke  of  diplo- 
macy. I  learned  afterward  that  diplomacy  is  a  mistake  for 
the  simple  man.  With  a  straightforward  "  Yes  "  or  "  No  " 
he  can  often  turn  aside  the  schemes  of  the  cunning,  but  on 
forsaking  these  he  generally  finds  the  other  side  considera- 
bly too  clever  for  him  —  all  of  which  is  a  wanton  digression 
from  the  story. 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  CHURCH  PARADE 

TT  was  raining  hard  when  I  climbed  into  the  dog-cart  and 
rattled  away  into  the  darkness,  while  somewhat  to  my 
surprise  Robert  the  Devil,  or  Devilish  Bob,  as  those  who 
had  the  care  of  him  called  the  bay  horse,  played  no  antics 
on  the  outward  journey,  which  was  safely  accomplished. 
So  leaving  him  at  the  venerable  "  Swan,"  I  hurried  through 
the  miry  streets  toward  the  church.  They  were  thronged 
with  pale-faced  men  and  women  who  had  sweated  out  their 
vigor  in  the  glare  of  red  furnace,  dye-shop,  and  humming 
mill,  but  there  was  no  lack  of  enthusiasm.  I  do  not  think 
there  are  any  cities  in  the  world  with  the  same  public  spirit 
and  pride  in  local  customs  that  one  may  find  in  the  grimy 
towns  of  Lancashire.  The  enthusiasm  is,  however,  part  of 
their  inhabitants'  nature,  and  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
dismal  surroundings. 

A  haze  of  smoke  had  mingled  with  the  rain;  yellow 
gas  jets  blinked  through  it,  though  it  would  not  be  dark  for 
an  hour  or  so  yet;  and  the  grim,  smoke-blackened  houses 
seemed  trickling  with  water.  Still  every  one  laughed  and 
chattered  with  good-humored  expectancy,  even  the  many 
who  had  no  umbrellas.  It  was  hard  work  to  reach  the 
church,  though  I  opined  that  all  the  multitude  did  not 
intend  to  venture  within,  and  when  once  I  saw  my  uncle 
with  a  wand  in  his  hand  I  carefully  avoided  him.  Martin 
Lorimer  was  a  power  and  well  liked  in  that  town,  but  I 
had  not  driven   ten  miles  to  assist  him.     Then   I  waited 

16 


THE  CHURCH  PARADE  17 

among  the  jostling  crowd  in  a  fever  of  impatience,  wonder- 
ing whether  Miss  Carrington  had  yet  gone  in,  until  at  last  I 
saw  the  Colonel  marching  through  the  throng,  which  —  and 
knowing  the  temperament  of  our  people  I  wondered  at  it  — 
made  way  for  him.  There  were  others  of  the  party  behind, 
and  my  heart  leaped  at  the  sight  of  Grace.  She  was  walking 
beside  Captain  Ormond,  who  smiled  down  at  her. 

Then,  just  as  the  Colonel  passed  within,  a  burst  of  cheer- 
ing broke  out,  and  in  the  mad  scramble  for  the  entrance 
Grace,  who  turned  a  moment  to  recover  the  cloak  she 
dropped,  was  separated  from  her  companion.  He  was  driven 
forward  in  the  thickest  part  of  the  stream  of  excited  hu- 
man beings,  and  fortune  had  signally  favored  me.  Squeez- 
ing through  from  behind  a  pillar  I  reached  her  side,  and 
grew  hot  with  pride  when  she  slipped  her  arm  through  mine, 
and  we  were  borne  forward  irresistibly  by  the  surging 
crowd.  Once  I  saw  Ormond  vainly  trying  to  make  his 
way  back  in  search  of  his  companion,  and  I  stood  so  that 
he  could  not  see  her.  Half-way  down  the  aisle  we  met  an 
official  who  recognized  me  as  a  nephew  of  Martin  Lorimer. 
"  I'll  find  you  and  the  lady  seats  in  the  chancel.  It  will  be 
the  only  good  place  left,"  he  said. 

I  did  not  care  where  we  went,  as  long  as  Grace  went 
with  me,  and  when  he  ensconced  us  under  an  oaken  canopy 
among  the  ancient  carved  stalls  I  longed  that  the  service 
might  last  a  century,  while  Grace's  quiet  "  Thank  you,  I 
am  so  interested,"  rilled  me  with  ecstasy. 

The  church  was  interesting.  There  are  many  cathe- 
drals that  could  not  compare  with  it;  and  it  was  very  old. 
The  damp  haze  had  entered  the  building,  and  obscuring 
half  the  clearstory  it  enhanced  its  stateliness,  for  the  great 
carved  pillars  and  arches  led  the  wandering  eye  aloft  and 
lost  it  in  a  mystery,  while  far  up  at  the  western  end  above 
the  organ   a  gilded   Gloria  caught  a  stray  shaft  of  light 


18         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

and  blazed  out  of  the  gloom.  I  saw  Grace's  eyes  rest  on  it, 
and  then  I  followed  them  down  across  the  sea  of  faces,  along 
the  quaint  escutcheons,  and  over  two  marble  tombs,  until 
she  fixed  them  on  her  father,  who  with  his  party  sat  in  a 
high-backed  pew.  The  crash  of  music  outside  ceased,  and 
with  a  steady  tramp  of  feet,  file  by  file,  men  in  scarlet  uni- 
form moved  up  the  aisle;  while  before  them,  led  by  the 
sword  and  gilded  mace,  came  a  little  homely  man,  who 
seemed  burdened  by  his  glittering  chain,  and  most  uncom- 
fortable. As  I  knew,  he  commenced  his  business  career 
with  ten  pounds'  capital,  and  could  hardly  speak  plain 
English,  while  now  his  goods  were  known  in  every  bazaar 
from  Cairo  to  Singapore.  This  knowledge  fostered  a  vague 
but  daring  hope  within  me. 

I  remember  little  of  the  service  beyond  Grace's  voice 
ringing  high  and  clear  in  the  "  Magnificat,"  while  for  per- 
haps the  first  time  I  caught  a  glimmer  of  its  full  significance, 
and  her  face,  clean-cut  against  the  shadow  where  a  fretted 
pinnacle  allowed  one  shaft  of  light  to  pass  it,  looking,  I 
thought,  like  that  of  a  haloed  saint.  The  rest  was  all  a 
blurred  impression  of  rolling  music,  half-seen  faces,  and  gay 
uniforms,  until  a  tall  old  man  of  commanding  personality 
stood  high  aloft  in  the  carved  pulpit,  and  proclaimed  a  doc- 
trine that  seemed  strangely  out  of  place  in  the  busy  town. 
Honest  labor  brought  its  own  reward  in  the  joy  of  diligent 
toil,  he  said,  and  the  prize  of  fame  or  money  was  a  much 
slighter  thing.  I  could  not  quite  understand  this  then,  for 
there  were  many  in  that  district  whose  daily  toil  wore  body 
and  soul  away,  so  that  none  of  them  might  hope  to  live  out 
half  of  man's  allotted  span,  while  a  prize  for  which  I  would 
have  given  my  life  sat  close  beside  me,  and  twice  that  evening 
the  calm  proud  eyes  had  smiled  gratefully  into  mine. 

Still,  there  was  one  drawback.  As  chance  would  have 
it,  Minnie  Lee,  who  operated  the  typewriter  in   the  mill 


THE  CHURCH  PARADE  19 

offices,  sat  just  opposite,  and  would  cast  mischievous  glances 
toward  me.  We  were  good  friends  in  a  way,  for  during 
two  years  I  had  talked  to  her  on  business  matters  every 
day,  and  sometimes  also  indulged  in  .innocent  badinage. 
She  was  fair-haired  and  delicately  pretty,  and  was  said  to  be 
aware  of  it;  but  now  of  all  times  I  did  not  want  those 
playful  smiles  directed  toward  me.  However,  I  hoped  that 
Grace  did  not  see  them;  and  not  knowing  what  else  to  do, 
for  I  could  not  frown  at  her,  I  sought  refuge  in  what  proved 
to  be  a  bewildering  chapter  of  genealogy,  until  the  building 
trembled  as  the  vast  assembly  joined  in  the  closing  hymn. 
Long  afterward,  out  on  the  lone  prairie  when  the  stars 
shone  down  through  the  bitter  frost,  I  could  hear  in  fancy 
Grace's  voice  rising  beside  me  through  the  great  waves  of 
sound.  Then  I  would  remember  the  song  of  the  speckled 
thrush  singing  at  sunset  after  a  showery  April  day  through 
the  shadow  of  a  copse. 

We  reached  the  street  safely,  though  in  that  press  there 
was  no  hope  of  finding  Colonel  Carrington,  even  if  I  wished 
it,  which  I  certainly  did  not,  so  after  some  demur  and  the 
discussing  of  other  expedients,  Grace  accepted  my  offer  to 
drive  her  home.  "  I  am  afraid  it  can't  be  helped,"  she  said, 
I  thought  with  quite  unnecessary  cruelty. 

The  dog-cart  was  ready,  and  Robert  the  Devil  went 
well.  The  long  streets  rolled  behind  us,  and  were  lost  in 
the  rain;  then  with  a  rhythmic  drumming  of  hoofs  and 
a  constant  splashing  from  under  the  whirring  wheels,  we 
swept  out  into  the  blackness  of  a  treeless  plain.  I  knew 
the  road  and  did  not  take  the  shortest  one ;  and  it  was 
rapture  to  draw  the  rugs  and  apron  round  Grace's  waist, 
and  feel  the  soft  furs  she  wore  brushing  against  me.  The 
ten  miles  passed  in  what  seemed  to  be  scarcely  as  many  min- 
utes, and  the  rush  through  the  damp  air  —  for  the  rain  had 
ceased    at    last  —  raised    my   companion's    spirits,    and    she 


20        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

chatted  merrily;  then,  just  as  we  reached  the  crest  of  a  steep 
dip  into  the  Starcross  valley,  the  Devil  must  take  fright  at 
a  colored  railway  light  that  he  had  often  seen  before. 

I  knew  we  were  in  for  a  struggle,  and  got  both  hands 
on  the  reins;  but  two  men  would  hardly  have  held  him. 
The  next  moment,  with  a  mad  rattle  of  wheels  and  red 
sparks  flashing  under  the  battering  hoofs,  we  went  flying  into 
the  long  dark  hollow,  while  I  think  I  prayed  that  the  Devil 
might  keep  his  footing  on  the  loose  stones  of  a  very  bad 
road.  One  lurch  flung  Grace  against  the  guard-rail,  the 
next  against  my  shoulder,  and  I  remember  feeling  when 
the  little  hand  fastened  on  my  arm,  that  I  would  gladly 
have  done  battle  with  ten  wild  horses  were  she  also  not  in 
jeopardy.  Fresh  drizzle  lashed  our  faces,  the  wind  screamed 
past,  the  wheels  seemed  to  leave  the  ground  alternately,  and 
a  light  rushed  up  toward  us  from  below,  while  with  my 
teeth  hard  set  I  wondered  what  would  happen  when  we 
reached  the  sharp  bend  at  the  bottom. 

I  got  the  Devil  around  it  somehow,  and  then  breathed 
easier,  for  the  steep  slope  of  Starcross  Brow  rose  close  ahead, 
and  I  knew  no  horse  was  ever  foaled  which  could  run  away 
up  that.  So,  trusting  to  one  hand,  I  slipped  my  arm  round 
Grace's  waist,  and,  thrilled  at  the  touch  of  her  damp  hair 
on  my  neck,  "I'll  hold  you  safe;  we  are  near  the  end,  and 
the  danger  will  soon  be  past,"  I  said. 

It  turned  out  so,  for  though  Robert  the  Devil  charged 
the  hill  gallantly,  Starcross  Brow  proved  too  much  for  him, 
and,  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  Grace  drew  herself  away.  "  I 
must  thank  you,  Mr.  Lorimer.     You  drive  well,"  she  said. 

Then  I  thought  that  if  she  had  been  like  Minnie,  or 
even  cousin  Alice,  I  might  have  ventured  to  replace  the 
protecting  arm,  but  there  was  something  about  Grace  Car- 
rington  that  made  one  treat  her,  as  it  were,  with  reverence. 
When  we  drew  up  in  front  of  Starcross  House  a  carriage 


THE  CHURCH  PARADE  91 

with  flashing  lamps  stood  in  the  drive;  I  had  seen  those 
lights  coming  down  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley.  After 
Grace  had  thanked  me  with  a  quiet  friendliness  as  I  helped 
her  down,  a  group  turned  to  meet  us  at  the  door.  The  first 
was  a  tall,  thin-faced  man  of  commanding  presence  with  a 
long  gray  moustache,  and  he  stared  hard  at  me  with  a 
haughtiness  that  I  fancied  was  tinctured  with  contempt, 
while  Captain  Ormond  stood  behind  him,  smiling  languidly 
and  lifted  a  warning  finger  unobserved  to  Grace.  There 
was  something  forbidding  about  Colonel  Carrington,  and  to 
the  last  few  men  liked  him.  I  remember  Harry  Lorraine 
once  comparing  him  to  Coriolanus  — "  Steeped  in  pride  to 
the  backbone,"  said  Harry,  "  but  it's  a  clean  pride,  and 
there's  a  good  deal  of  backbone  about  him." 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  safe,  Grace,"  he  commenced. 
"  We  were  rather  anxious  about  you.  But  where  have  you 
been,  and  how  did  we  pass  you?  " 

I  never  saw  Grace  either  confused  or  taken  by  surprise, 
and  when  she  explained  quietly  her  father  looked  down  at 
me  from  the  top  step  as  he  said,  "  I  thank  you,  sir,  but  I  did 
not  catch  the  name.  May  I  ask  who  it  is  to  whom  we  are 
so  much  indebted?  Neither  do  I  quite  understand  yet  how 
we  got  here  before  you." 

There  was  nothing  in  the  words,  but  the  glance  and 
tone  conveyed  the  idea  that  he  regretted  the  debt,  while 
the  whimsical  look  on  Ormond's  face  aided  in  stirring  me, 
for  we  had  democratic  notions  in  that  part  of  Lancashire. 

"  Ralph  Lorimer,  assistant  cashier  in  the  Orb  Mill,"  I 
said.  "  It  was  a  slight  service,  and  I  did  not  consider  the 
shortest  way  best ;  "  while  before  the  Colonel  could  answer 
I  raised  my  hat  to  Grace,  and,  taking  Robert  the  Devil's 
head,  turned  him  sharply  around.  Still,  as  I  climbed  into 
the  dog-cart  I  saw  that  the  burly  master  of  Starcross  House 
was    chuckling   at   something,    and    I    drove   away    feeling 


9£         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

strangely  satisfied  with  myself,  until  I  began  to  wonder 
whether  after  all  to  walk  twice  off  the  field  defiantly  before 
the  enemy  was  not  another  form  of  cowardice.  Alice  met 
me  on  the  threshold  —  for  she  heard  the  wheels  —  with  a 
query  as  to  why  the  Satanic  Robert  was  in  such  a  state ;  but 
for  several  reasons  I  did  not  fully  enlighten  her. 

My  uncle  did  not  return  that  night,  and  I  left  for  town 
the  next  morning.  In  the  afternoon  I  sought  an  interview 
with  him  in  his  private  office.  It  was  with  some  trepidation 
that  I  entered,  because  Martin  Lorimer  was  frank  of  speech 
and  quick  in  temper,  and  I  knew  he  was  then  busy  with 
the  details  of  a  scheme  that  might  double  the  output  of  his 
mill.  He  thrust  the  papers  away  and  leaned  forward  on 
his  desk,  a  characteristic  specimen  of  his  race,  square  in  jaw 
and  shoulder,  with  keenness  and  power  stamped  on  his 
wrinkled  face. 

"  Well,  Ralph,  what  is  it  now?  "  he  asked.  "  Johnson  of 
Starcross  has  been  telling  me  some  tale  about  your  running 
away  with  an  heiress  and  giving  his  answer  to  Colonel 
Carrington.  I'm  not  altogether  sorry.  I  do  not  like  that 
man.     There  is  also  a  reason  why  he  doesn't  like  me." 

"  It  has  nothing  to  do  with  that,  sir,"  I  answered  awk- 
wardly. "  You  know  I  have  never  asked  questions  about 
the  family  money ;  and  you  have  been  very  kind  to  me.  But 
the  fact  is  I  can't  stand  the  mill,  and  I'm  thinking  of  asking 
for  whatever  remains  of  my  share  and  going  out  to  Canada." 

Martin  Lorimer  smote  the  desk  suddenly  with  his  fist, 
and  there  was  angry  bewilderment  in  his  eyes. 

"Hast  gone  mad  altogether,  lad?"  he  asked. 

I  met  his  gaze  steadily.  "  No,"  I  answered.  "  I  can't 
help  longing  for  a  life  in  the  open  air;  and  there  is  room  in 
Canada  for  poor  people  like  me." 

Then,  thrusting  his  square  jaw  forward,  he  said:  "Thy 
father  left  four  hundred  pounds  in  all.     It  is  now  Hvey  under 


THE  CHURCH  PARADE  23 

my  stewardship.  Shall  I  ask  the  cashier  to  make  out  a  state- 
ment? Thy  father  had  whims  and  fancies,  or  it  would 
have  been  four  thousand.  Tom  Lorimer  could  never  see 
which  side  of  his  bread  wTas  buttered.  He  was  born  a  fool, 
like  thee." 

Flinging  back  my  head  I  rose  facing  him.  But  he 
thundered,  "  Stop!  You  ought  to  know  my  meaning.  He 
was  an  open-handed  gentleman,  and  my  well-loved  brother. 
If  you  take  your  share  of  the  five  hundred,  what  is  going  to 
educate  your  brother  Reggie  and  your  sister  Aline?  I  pre- 
sume you  know  the  fees  they  charge  at  both  those  schools? 
And  did  you  ever  ask  whether  I  had  plans  for  thee?  " 

I  was  silent  a  moment.  For  the  first  time  it  struck  me 
with  sudden  shame  that  Martin  Lorimer  had  already  most 
generously  done  his  best  to  start  his  brother's  orphans  well 
in  life.     Then  I  answered  slowly: 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  I  recognize  your  goodness ;  but  I 
know  I  should  never  be  successful  in  the  mill.  I'm  sorry, 
but  that  is  only  the  simple  truth.  Let  Reggie  and  Aline 
keep  all,  except  enough  for  a  third-class  passage  to  Winnipeg. 
This  is  not  a  rash  whim.  It  has  taken  me  three  years  to 
make  up  my  mind.', 

"  Then  there's  an  end  of  the  matter,"  said  Martin  Lor- 
imer. "  Stubbornness  is  in  the  family,  and  you  are  your 
father's  son.  An  archangel  would  hardly  have  moved  poor 
Tom !  Well,  lad,  you  shall  not  go  penniless,  nor  third-class, 
if  it's  only  for  the  credit  of  the  name ;  and  you  can't  go  until 
spring.  I  thank  thee  for  telling  me;  but  I'm  busy,  and 
we'll  talk  again.     Hast  told  thy  cousin  Alice  about  it?  " 

His  eyes  had  lost  their  angry  flash  before  I  went  out,  and 
something  in  his  change  of  tone  revealed  the  hard  bargain- 
maker's  inner  self. 

Minnie  Lee  smiled  over  the  typewriter  as  I  passed  her 
room,  and  I  went  in  to  tell  her  about  it.     I  felt  I  must  talk 


24        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

to  some  one;  and,  if  not  gifted  with  much  sense,  she  was  a 
sympathetic  girl.  She  listened  with  a  pretty  air  of  dismay, 
and  said  petulantly,  "  So  I  shall  lose  my  only  friend  in  this 
dreary  mill!  Don't  they  pay  high  wages  for  my  work  in 
Montreal  and  Winnipeg?  Well,  if  you  hear  of  a  situation 
you  can  send  straight  back  for  me." 

Then  a  door  slammed,  and  I  saw  a  frown  on  my  uncle's 
face  as,  perhaps  attracted  by  the  sound  of  voices,  he  glanced 
into  the  room  on  passing.  Still,  it  was  some  time  afterward 
before  I  learned  that  he  had  heard  the  last  words;  and,  re- 
membering them  eventually  when  recalled  by  events,  Min- 
nie's careless  speech  proved  an  unfortunate  one  for  both  of  us. 


CHAPTER  III 

"  THE   LAND  OF   PROMISE  " 

T  T  was  a  dismal  afternoon  in  early  spring  when  I  lounged 
disconsolately  about  the  streets  of  Winnipeg.  The 
prairie  metropolis  had  not  then  attained  its  present  magni- 
tude, but  it  was  busy  and  muddy  enough;  for  when  the 
thaw  comes  the  mire  of  a  Western  town  is  indescribable. 
Also  odd  showers  of  wet  snow  came  down,  and  I  shivered 
under  my  new  skin  coat,  envying  the  busy  citizens  who, 
with  fur  caps  drawn  low  down,  hurried  to  and  fro.  One 
and  all  wore  the  stamp  of  prosperity,  and  their  voices  had 
a  cheerful  ring  that  grated  on  me,  for  I  of  all  that  bustling 
crowd  seemed  idle  and  without  a  purpose.  So,  feeling 
utterly  forlorn,  a  stranger  in  a  very  strange  and,  at  first 
sight,  a  forbidding  land,  I  trudged  up  and  down,  waiting 
for  the  evening  train  which  was  to  bear  me  west,  and 
pondering  over  all  that  had  happened  during  the  past  few 
weeks. 

There  was  the  parting  with  my  uncle,  who  laid  a  strong 
hand  on  my  shoulder  and  lapsed  into  the  speech  of  the 
country  as  he  said,  "  I  need  not  tell  thee  to  set  thy  teeth  and 
hang  on  through  the  first  few  years,  lad.  Thy  father  played 
out  a  losing  game  only  too  staunchly;  and  it's  stey  work 
at  the  beginning.  I  mind  when  I  started  the  mill  —  but 
that's  an  old  story.  It's  the  man  who  can  grin  and  bear 
it,  coming  up  smiling  after  each  fall,  who  wins  in  the  end. 
And  thou  hast  all  the  world  before  thee.  Still,  remember 
there  are  staunch  friends  behind  thee  here  in  Lancashire." 

25 


26         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I  think  his  fingers  shook  a  little,  but  Martin  Lorimer 
was  not  addicted  to  much  display  of  sentiment,  and  with  a 
cough  he  hurried  away;  though  I  remember  that  the  old 
cashier,  who  had  served  him  since  he  started,  putting  a 
sealed  envelope  in  my  hand,  said : 

"  It's  a  draft  for  one  hundred  pounds  on  the  Bank  of 
Montreal,  and  it's  a  secret;  but  I'm  not  debiting  the  estate 
with  it.  Thou'rt  a  gradely  fool  for  thy  trouble,  Ralph  Lori- 
mer. But  I  knew  thy  father,  and,  like  him,  thou  mun  go 
thy  own  way.  Well,  maybe  it's  for  the  best ;  and  good  luck 
go  with  thee." 

Next  came  my  farewell  from  cousin  Alice,  who  blushed 
as,  laying  before  me  a  fine  Winchester  repeating  rifle,  which 
must  have  cost  her  some  trouble  to  obtain  in  England  then, 
she  said : 

"  It's  only  a  little  keepsake,  but  I  thought  you  would 
like  it  —  and  you  will  remember  your  cousin  when  you  use 
it.  Ralph,  you  have  chosen  to  work  out  your  own  destiny, 
and  for  many  a  night  your  uncle  fumed  over  it  until  at  last 
he  said  that  the  child  who  fought  for  scraps  in  the  gutter 
grew  to  be  worth  any  two  of  the  spoon-fed.  You  know  how 
fond  he  is  of  forcible  simile,  and  he  frowned  when  I  sug- 
gested that  Canada  was  not  a  gutter.  Still,  it  is  too  late  to 
consider  whether  you  did  well,  and  I  ask,  as  a  last  favor, 
if  you  are  ever  unfortunate,  if  only  for  the  sake  of  old  times, 
you  will  let  us  know.  And  now  I  wish  you  all  prosperity. 
Good-bye,  Ralph  dear,  and  God  bless  you." 

Her  eyes  wrere  dim,  and  she  looked  so  small  and  fragile 
that  I  stooped  and  kissed  her,  while  though  she  drew  herself 
suddenly  away  with  the  crimson  mantling  upward  from  her 
neck,  I  felt  that  whatever  happened  I  had  a  friend  for  life  in 
Alice  Lorimer. 

Now  all  of  that  had  faded  into  the  past  that  I  had  left 
behind  across  the  sea,  and  henceforward  I  knew  there  must 


"  THE  LAND  OF  PROMISE  "  27 

be  no  more  glancing  back.  I  had  chosen  my  own  path, 
and  must  press  forward  with  eyes  turned  steadfastly  ahead, 
although  at  present  I  could  see  no  further  than  the  prairie 
station  that  I  would  reach  some  time  before  dawn  the  next 
day.  A  wheat-grower's  dwelling  thirty  miles  back  from  the 
railroad  was  registered  as  wanting  assistance,  the  immigration 
officer  said.  Slowly,  with  more  snow  and  a  freshening  of 
the  bitter  wind*  the  afternoon  wore  itself  away,  and  I  was 
glad  when  that  evening  I  boarded  the  west-bound  train.  It 
was  thronged  with  emigrants  of  many  nationalities,  and 
among  them  were  Scandinavian  maidens,  tow-haired  and 
red-cheeked,  each  going  out  to  the  West  to  be  married. 
Their  courtship  would  be  brief  and  unromantic,  but,  as  I 
was  afterward  to  learn,  three-fourths  of  the  marriages 
so  made  turned  out  an  unqualified  success.  Still,  I  found  a 
corner  in  the  smoking  end  of  a  long  Colonist  car,  and,  with 
the  big  bell  clanging  and  a  storm  of  voices  exchanging  fare- 
wells in  many  tongues,  the  great  locomotive  hauled  us  out 
into  the  whirling  snow. 

Thick  flakes  beat  on  the  windows,  and  icy  draughts  swept 
through  the  car,  while  the  big  stove  in  a  boxed-in  corner 
hummed  with  a  drowsy  roar.  With  half-closed  eyes  I 
leaned  back  against  the  hard  maple  while  the  preceding 
scenes  of  the  long  journey  rolled  like  a  panorama  before  me. 
Twelve  days  it  took  the  ancient  steamer,  which  swarmed 
like  a  hive,  to  thrash  through  mist  and  screaming  gale  across 
the  Atlantic,  while  fifteen  hundred  emigrants  below  wished 
themselves  dead.  Then  there  followed  an  apparently  endless 
transit  in  the  lurching  cars,  where  we  slept  as  best  we 
could  on  uncushioned  seats  and  floor,  through  dark  pine  for- 
ests, with  only  an  occasional  tin-roofed  hamlet  to  break  the 
monotony.  After  that  there  were  wooden  cities  in  Ontario 
very  much  like  the  hamlets  of  a  larger  growth ;  and  when  at 
last  sickened  by  the  vibration,  we  sped  out  on  to  the  long- 


28        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

expected  prairie,  the  prospect  was  by  no  means  inviting. 
Spring,  I  was  told,  was  very  late  that  year,  and  the  plains 
rolled  before  us  to  the  horizon  a  dreary  white  wilderness 
streaked  by  willow-swale,  with  at  first  many  lonely  lakes 
rippling  a  bitter  steely-blue  under  the  blasts,  while  crackling 
ice  fringed  their  shores.  Then  several  of  my  companions, 
who  were  young  and  romantic  Britons  with  big  revolvers 
strapped  about  them  under  their  jackets,  grew  suspiciously 
quiet,  and  said  no  more  about  the  strange  adventures  they 
had  looked  for  in  the  West.  There  was  nothing  romantic 
about  this  land,  which  lacked  even  the  clear  skies  Grace 
Carrington  spoke  of.  It  looked  a  hard  country,  out  of  which 
only  a  man  with  the  power  of  stubborn  endurance  could 
wrest  a  living. 

So  with  a  rhythmic  beat  of  whirring  wheels,  and  now  and 
again  a  clash  of  couplings  as  we  slid  down  some  hollow 
of  the  track,  we  rolled  on  through  the  night,  while  the  scream 
of  wind  grew  louder  outside  the  rattling  cars.  I  was  nearly 
asleep  when  there  came  a  sudden  shock,  and  the  conductor's 
voice  rang  out  warning  us  to  leave  the  train.  At  slackened 
speed  we  had  run  into  a  snow  block,  and  the  wedge-headed 
plow  was  going,  so  he  said,  to  plug  the  drifts  under  a  full 
pressure,  and  butt  her  right  straight  through. 

Shivering  to  the  backbone,  I  dropped  from  the  platform 
into  two  feet  of  snow,  and  after  floundering  through  it  I 
halted  among  a  group  of  excited  men  behind  the  two  huge 
locomotives.  For  a  newcomer  it  was  a  striking  scene.  The 
snow  had  ceased,  and  watery  moonlight  lit  up  the  great 
white  plain,  in  the  midst  of  which,  with  the  black  smoke 
of  the  engines  drifting  across  under  a  double  column  of 
roaring  steam,  stood  the  illuminated  train.  There  was  noth- 
ing else  to  show  that  man  had  ever  been  there  before,  except 
the  spectral  row  of  telegraph  posts  that  dwindled  in  long 
perspective  to  the  horizon.     Ahead  a  billowy  drift  wThich 


"  THE  LAND  OF  PROMISE  "  29 

filled  a  hollow  rose  level  with  the  wedge-shape  framing  on 
the  snow-plow  front.  They  run  both  better  plows  and 
more  luxurious  Colonist  cars  now. 

"Will  they  get  through?"  I  asked  a  tall  man  in  fur 
robes  with  whom  I  had  chatted. 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  just  bet  they  will,"  he  answered  cheerfully. 
"  Jim  Grant  and  Number  Sixty  are  a  very  bad  pair  to  beat ; 
he'll  either  jump  the  track  or  rush  her  through  it.  He's 
backing  her  out  now  for  the  first  lead." 

With  a  clang  of  the  bell  to  warn  us  off  the  line,  the 
coupled  engines  slowly  shoved  the  long  train  back  the  way 
they  had  come.  Then  the  roar  of  blown-off  steam  grew 
still,  and  with  loud  blasts  from  the  funnels  that  rapidly 
quickened  they  swept  again  down  the  slight  grade  like 
snorting  giants,  the  huge  head-lamp  casting  a  blaze  of  ra- 
diance before  them.  It  went  out  suddenly ;  I  heard  the  thud 
of  a  soft  but  heavy  shock,  and  long  waves  of  whiteness 
curled  up,  while  above  it  there  was  a  hurling  aloft  of  red 
sparks  from  the  twin  funnels.  Then  the  tail-light  glim- 
mered more  brightly  as  it  returned  again,  and  we  looked 
into  the  steep  hollow  with  rammed-back  slopes  out  of  which 
the  engines  backed  slowly. 

"  She'll  do  it  sure  next  time,"  said  the  passenger. 
11  Grant's  going  right  back  to  Winnipeg  to  get  on  speed 
enough ;  "  and  under  an  eddying  blast  of  steam  the  massive 
locomotives  charged  past  us  once  more,  while  I  felt  a  thrill 
as  I  watched  them,  and  envied  Grant,  the  engineer.  It  was 
something  to  hold  that  power  in  the  hollow  of  one's  hand. 
Thick  white  powder  whirled  aloft  like  smoke  before  them, 
a  filmy  wavy  mass  that  seemed  alive  rolled  aside,  while 
presently  the  whistle  boomed  in  triumph,  and  there  was  an 
exultant  shout  from  the  passengers,  for  steam  had  vanquished 
the  snow,  and  the  road  lay  open  before  us.  Blundering 
down  the  gap  they  had  made  I  climbed  on  board  the  train, 


30         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

colder  than  ever.  As  my  new  friend  seemed  a  native  of 
the  neighborhood,  I  asked  him  whether  he  knew  the  farmer 
tc  whom  I  was  going  to  offer  my  services. 

He  laughed  as  he  answered:  "I  ought  to.  Beat  me 
badly  over  a  deal  in  stock  he  did.  Old  Coombs  is  a  Britisher, 
and  a  precious  low-grade  specimen.  Dare  say  he'll  take  you, 
but  stick  him  for  half  as  much  again  as  he  offers  you,  and 
bargain  ex  harvest  —  you'll  get  double  wages  anywhere  then 
—  see?  How  does  this  great  country  strike  you  —  don't 
think  much  of  it  ?  —  well,  go  slow  and  steady  and  it  will 
grow  on  you.  It's  good  enough  for  me,  and  I  was  raised  on 
the  best  land  in  Ontario." 

This  was  not  encouraging,  but  I  knew  that  most  begin- 
nings are  unpleasant,  and  I  went  shivering  to  sleep  until  in 
the  gray  twilight  of  what  might  have  been  a  mid-winter 
dawn  a  blast  of  the  whistle  awakened  me  and  the  brakes 
began  to  scream.  The  train  ran  slowly  past  an  edifice  re- 
sembling a  sod  stable  with  one  light  in  it,  stopped,  and  the 
conductor  strode  into  the  car.  Even  now  the  Western  rail- 
road conductor  is  a  personage,  but  he  might  have  been  an 
emperor  then,  and  this  particular  specimen  had  lorded  it 
over  the  Colonist  passengers  in  a  manner  that  for  several 
days  had  made  me  long  to  rebuke  him.  It  was  foolish,  of 
course,  but  I  was  as  yet  new  to  the  ways  of  the  country, 
and  I  fear  we  were  always  a  somewhat  combative  family. 

"  Any  one  for  Elktail?  Jump  off;  we  can't  wait  all 
night  with  the  west-bound  mail,"  he  said.  "  Say  you," 
looking  at  me,  "  you  had  an  Elktail  ticket.  Why  aren't  you 
getting  off?  " 

It's  Vermont  I  am  bound  for,"  I  answered  sleepily. 
"  You  will  see  it  on  my  ticket  if  you  look  in  your  wallet;  " 
but  this,  of  course,  the  magnate  refused  to  do,  and  when 
another  hoot  of  the  whistle  announced  the  engineer's  im- 
patience he  called  a  brakeman,  saying: 


"  THE  LAND  OF  PROMISE  *  31 

"  You  are  bound  for  Elktail,  and  we've  no  time  for  fool- 
ing. Won't  get  off?  Well,  we'll  soon  put  you,"  and, 
grasping  my  shoulder,  he  hustled  me  toward  the  platform  of 
the  car. 

Now,  though  Martin  Lorimer  sometimes  gave  way  to 
outbreaks  of  indignation,  he  was  fond  of  impressing  the  fact 
on  me  that  if  forced  into  a  quarrel  one  should  take  the 
first  steps  deliberately.  Also,  even  then  I  remembered  that 
Coombs'  homestead  lay  almost  as  near  Elktail,  and  a  happy 
thought  struck  me.  So  I  offered  but  little  resistance  until, 
as  we  stood  on  the  platform,  the  brakeman  or  some  one 
waved  a  lantern;  then,  while  with  a  shock  of  couplings  the 
cars  commenced  to  move,  I  gripped  the  guard-rail  with  one 
hand  and  held  the  other  ready,  for  I  had  determined  if  I 
left  that  train  before  I  reached  Vermont  the  conductor 
should  certainly  leave  it  too. 

"  Off  with  you !  "  he  shouted,  and  shook  me  by  the 
shoulder;  but  I  seized  him  by  the  waist  —  the  cars  were 
moving  faster  now  —  and  then  flung  myself  off  backward 
into  the  snow.  I  fell  softly  for  as  it  happened  the  conduc- 
tor fell  under  me,  and,  profiting  by  experience  hardly  earned 
in  several  colliery  disputes,  I  took  the  precaution  of  sitting 
on  him  before  he  could  get  up. 

"  It  won't  be  my  fault  if  you  get  hurt  because  you  don't 
keep  still,"  I  said. 

Then  there  was  a  roar  of  laughter  close  by,  and  staring 
breathless  down  the  track  I  saw  the  tail-light  of  the  train 
grow  dimmer  across  the  prairie  until  it  stopped  and  came 
swinging  toward  us  again. 

"  I'd  rather  have  lost  five  dollars  than  missed  that,"  said 
my  new  friend,  rubbing  his  hands.  "  Not  bad  for  a  raw 
Britisher  —  put  the  boss  conductor  off  his  own  train  and 
held  up  the  Vancouver  mail!  Say,  what  are  you  going  ta 
do  with  him,  sonny?  " 


32        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  He  can  get  up,  and  learn  to  be  civil,"  I  answered 
grimly;  and  when  the  man  did  so,  sullenly,  the  other  said: 

"  Well,  I  don't  want  any  mess-up  with  the  brakeman,  so 
we  may  as  well  walk  out  now  that  they're  coming  back  for 
him.  Only  one  man  in  this  shanty,  and  he  wouldn't  turn 
out  unless  it  were  a  director.  Leave  your  baggage  where 
they  dumped  it  —  can't  move  it  until  daylight  —  and  come 
along  with  me !  " 

I  did  so  somewhat  regretfully,  for  I  felt  just  then  that 
if  this  was  the  way  they  welcomed  the  emigrant  in  that 
country  it  would  be  a  relief  to  do  battle  writh  the  whole  of 
them.  Afterward  I  learned  that  when  one  understands  his 
ways,  which  is  difficult  to  do  at  first,  there  are  many  good 
qualities  in  the  Western  railroad-man.  Still,  I  always  won- 
dered why  the  friendless  newcomer  should  be  considered  a 
fair  mark  for  petty  hostility,  •specially  by  those  who  formerly 
were  poor  themselves  —  all  of  which  applies  only  to  city-bred 
men  who  hold  some  small  office,  for  those  who  live  by  hard 
labor  in  forest  and  prairie  would  share  their  last  crust  wTith 
the  stranger. 

We  trudged  away  from  the  station,  with  a  square  block 
of  wooden  houses  rising  nakedly  in  front  of  us  from  the 
prairie,  and  two  gaunt  elevators  flanking  it  to  left  and  right 
beside  the  track,  which  is  one's  usual  first  impression  of  a 
Western  town.  The  rambling  wooden  building  which  com- 
bined the  callings  of  general  store  and  hotel  was  all  in  dark- 
ness, for  the  owner  expected  no  guests  just  then,  and  would 
not  have  got  up  for  any  one  but  my  companion  if  he  had. 
So,  after  pounding  long  on  the  door,  a  drowsy  voice  de- 
manded, with  many  and  vivid  expletives,  who  was  there,  and 
then  added: 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  Jasper ;  what  in  the  name  of  thunder  are 
you  making  all  that  row  about?  And  what  are  you  doing 
waking  up  a  man  this  time  o'  night!     Hold  on!     You're  an 


"  THE  LAND  OF  PROMISE  "  33 

obstinate  man,  and  I  guess  you'll  bust  my  door  unless  I  let 
you  in." 

The  speaker  did  so,  and  when  he  had  ushered  us  into  a 
long  bare  room  with  a  stove  still  twinkling  in  the  midst  of 
it,  he  explained  that  his  subordinates  would  not  serve  an  am- 
bassador before  the  regulation  breakfast  hour,  and  lighting  a 
kerosene  lamp  immediately  withdrew.  Jasper,  however,  took 
it  all  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  when,  rolled  in  his  long 
coat,  he  stretched  himself  on  a  settee  and  went  to  sleep,  I 
followed  suit.  Still  they  gave  us  a  good  breakfast  —  por- 
ridge, steak,  potatoes,  corn-cakes  and  molasses  —  at  which  I 
wondered,  because  I  had  not  discovered  as  yet  that  there  is 
no  difference  on  the  prairie  between  any  of  the  three  meals 
of  the  day. 

When  it  was  finished,  my  companion,  who  gave  me  di- 
rections as  to  how  to  find  Coombs'  homestead,  added : 

"  Remember  what  I  told  you  about  harvest,  and,  if  you 
strike  nothing  better,  when  the  wheat  is  ripe  come  straight 
back  to  me.  I'm  Long  Jasper  of  Willow  Creek,  and  every 
one  knows  me.  I  like  your  looks,  and  I'll  give  you  double 
whatever  Coombs  pays  you.  Guess  he'll  have  taught  you 
something,  and  I'm  not  speculating  much  when  I  stake  on 
that.  You'll  fetch  Jackson's  crossing  on  the  flat;  go  in  and 
borrow  a  horse  from  him.  Tell  him  Jasper  sent  you.  Your 
baggage?  When  the  station  agent  feels  energetic  he'll  dump 
it  into  his  shed,  but  I  guess  there's  nothing  that  would 
hurry  him  until  he  does.  Now  strike  out;  it's  only  thirty 
miles,  and  if  you  go  on  as  you've  begun  you'll  soon  feel  at 
home  in  this  great  country!  " 

I  thanked  him  sincerely  and  departed ;  and,  as  I  passed  the 
station,  I  saw  that  the  agent  evidently  had  not  felt  ener- 
getic yet,  for  my  two  boxes  lay  just  where  they  had  been 
flung  out  beside  the  track.  As  a  preliminary  experience  it 
was   all  somewhat   daunting,   and   the   country   forbidding, 


34         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

raw,  even  more  unfinished  than  smoke-blackened  Lancashire, 
and  very  cold;  but  I  had  found  that  every  one  seemed  con- 
tented, and  many  of  them  proud  of  that  new  land,  and  I 
could  see  no  reason  why  I  too  should  not  grow  fond  of  it. 
At  least  I  had  not  seen  a  hungry  or  a  ragged  person  since 
I  landed  in  Canada.  Besides,  Carrington  Manor  was  less 
than  fifty  miles  away,  though  it  was  evident  now  that  a  great 
gulf  lay  between  Ralph  Lorimer,  the  emigrant  seeking  an 
opportunity  to  learn  his  business  as  farm-servant,  and  the 
heiress  of  Carrington. 


CHAPTER  IV 

AN    UNPLEASANT    APPRENTICESHIP 

T>  Y  this  time  the  sun  was  high,  and,  fastening  the  skin 
coat  round  my  shoulders  with  a  piece  of  string,  I  trudged 
on,  rejoicing  in  the  first  warmth  and  brightness  I  had  so  far 
found  in  Canada.  But  it  had  its  disadvantages,  for  the  snow 
became  unpleasantly  soft,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  find  that 
the  breeze  had  stripped  the  much  thinner  covering  from 
the  first  of  the  swelling  rises  that  rolled  back  toward  the 
north.  Here  I  halted  a  few  minutes  and  surveyed  my 
adopted  country. 

Behind  lay  the  roofs  of  Elktail,  some  of  them  tin-covered 
and  flashing  like  a  heliograph ;  in  front  a  desolate  wilderness 
where  the  gray-white  of  frost-bleached  grasses  was  streaked 
by  the  incandescent  brightness  of  sloppy  snow.  There  was 
neither  smoke  nor  sign  of  human  presence  in  all  its  borders 
—  only  a  few  dusky  patches  of  willows  to  break  the  vast 
monotony  of  white  and  blue.  And  somewhere  out  on  those 
endless  levels,  thirty  miles  to  the  north,  lay  the  homestead 
of  the  man  who  might  not  give  me  employment  even  if  I 
could  find  the  place,  which,  remembering  Jasper's  directions, 
seemed  by  no  means  certain.  However,  the  first  landmark 
at  least  was  visible,  a  sinuous  line  of  dwarfed  trees  low 
down  on  the  horizon;  and  gathering  my  sinking  courage  I 
struck  out  for  it.  Slowly  the  miles  were  left  behind  — 
straggling  copse,  white  plateau,  and  winding  ravine  —  until 
it  was  a  relief  to  find  an  erection  of  sod  and  birch-poles 
nestling   in   a  hollow.     The  man  who  greeted  me   in   the 

35 


36        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

doorway  was  bronzed  to  coffee  color  by  the  sun-blink  on 
snow,  and  his  first  words  were:  "Walk  right  in,  and  make 
yourself  at  home!  " 

He  was  thin,  hard,  and  wiry;  the  gray  slouch  hat  and 
tattered  deerskin  jacket  became  him;  while,  if  he  had  not 
the  solidity  of  our  field  laborers,  he  evidently  had  nothing 
of  their  slowness,  and  with  natural  curiosity  I  surveyed  him. 
There  were  many  in  Lancashire  and  Yorkshire  who  might 
beat  him  at  a  heavy  lift,  but  few  who  could  do  so  in  a  steady 
race  against  time  from  dawn  to  dusk,  I  thought.  Then 
somewhat  awkwardly  I  explained  my  business,  and,  men- 
tioning Jasper,  asked  if  he  would  lend  me  a  horse,  where- 
upon he  called  to  the  cheerful,  neatly-dressed  woman  bust- 
ling about  the  stove: 

"  Hurry  on  that  dinner,  Jess!  " 

Next,  turning  to  me,  he  added :  "  You're  welcome  to  the 
horse,  but  it  will  be  supper-time  before  you  fetch  Coombs' 
homestead,  and  you  mayn't  get  much  then.  So  lie  right 
back  where  you  are  until  dinner's  ready,  and  tell  us  the 
best  news  of  the  Old  Country.     Jess  was  born  there." 

It  was  characteristic  treatment,  and  though  the  meal 
was  frugal  —  potatoes,  pork,  green  tea,  flapjacks  and  drips, 
which  is  probably  glucose  flavored  with  essences  —  they  gave 
me  of  their  best,  as  even  the  poorest  settlers  do.  One  might 
travel  the  wide  world  over  to  find  their  equal  in  kindly 
hospitality.  Perhaps  the  woman  noticed  my  bashfulness,  for 
she  laughed  as  she  said: 

"  You're  very  welcome  to  anything  we  have.  New  out 
from  England,  I  see,  and  maybe  we're  rough  to  look  at. 
Still,  you'll  learn  to  like  us  presently." 

In  this,  however,  she  was  wrong.  They  were  not  rough 
to  look  at,  for  though  it  was  plain  to  see  that  both  toiled 
hard  for  a  bare  living  there  was  a  light-hearted  contentment 
about  them,  and  a  curious  something  that  seemed  akin  to 


AN  UNPLEASANT  APPRENTICESHIP     37 

refinement.  It  was  not  educational  polish,  but  rather  a 
natural  courtesy  and  self-respect,  though  the  words  do  not 
adequately  express  it,  which  seems  born  of  freedom,  and 
an  instinctive  realization  of  the  brotherhood  of  man  ex- 
pressed in  kindly  action.  Hard-handed  and  weather-beaten, 
younger  son  of  good  English  family  or  plowman  born, 
as  I  was  afterward  to  find,  the  breakers  of  the  prairie  are 
rarely  barbaric  in  manners  or  speech,  and,  in  the  sense  of 
its  inner  meaning,  most  of  them  are  essentially  gentlemen. 

It  was  with  a  lighter  heart  and  many  good  wishes  that  I 
rode  out  again,  and  eventually  reached  Coombs'  home- 
stead, where  a  welcome  of  a  different  kind  awaited  me. 
The  house  was  well  built  of  sawn  lumber,  and  backed  by  a 
thin  birch  bluff,  while  there  was  no  difficulty  in  setting 
down  its  owner  as  an  Englishman  of  a  kind  that  fortunately 
is  not  common.  He  was  stout  and  flabby  in  face,  with  a 
smug,  self-satisfied  air  I  did  not  like.  Leaning  against  a 
paddock  rail,  he  looked  me  over  while  I  told  him  what 
had  brought  me  there.  Then  he  said,  with  no  trace  of 
Western  accent,  which,  it  afterward  appeared,  he  affected 
to  despise: 

"  You  should  not  have  borrowed  that  horse,  because 
if  we  come  to  terms  I  shall  have  to  feed  him  a  day  or  two. 
Of  course  you  would  be  useless  for  several  months  at  least, 
and  with  the  last  one  I  got  a  premium.  However,  as  a 
favor  Til  take  you  until  after  harvest  for  your  board.' ' 

"  What  are  the  duties  ? "  I  asked  cautiously.  And  he 
answered : 

"  Rise  at  dawn,  feed  the  working  cattle,  and  plow  until 
the  dinner-hour  —  when  you  learn  how.  Then  you  could 
water  the  stock  while  you're  resting;  plow,  harrow,  or 
chop  wood  until  supper;  after  that,  wash  up  supper  dishes, 
and  —  it's  standing  order  —  attend  family  prayers.  In 
summer  you'll  continue  hay  cutting  until  it's  dark." 


38        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Now  the  inhabitants  of  eastern  Lancashire  and  the  West 
Riding  are  seldom  born  foolish,  and  Jasper  had  cautioned 
me.  So  it  may  have  been  native  shrewdness  that  led  to 
my  leaving  the  draft  for  one  hundred  pounds  intact  at 
the  Winnipeg  office  of  the  Bank  of  Montreal  and  deter- 
mining to  earn  experience  and  a  living  at  the  same  time 
as  promptly  as  possible.  Also,  though  I  did  not  discover 
it  until  later,  this  is  the  one  safe  procedure  for  the  would-be 
colonist.  There  is  not  the  slightest  reason  why  he  should 
pay  a  premium,  because  the  work  is  the  same  in  either 
case;  and  as,  there  being  no  caste  distinction,  all  men  are 
equal,  hired  hand  and  farmer  living  and  eating  together, 
he  will  find  no  difference  in  the  treatment.  In  any  case, 
I  had  no  intention  of  working  for  nothing,  and  answered 
shortly : 

"I'll  come  for  ten  dollars  a  month  until  harvest.  I 
shall  no  doubt  find  some  one  to  give  me  twenty  then." 

Coombs  stared,  surveyed  me  ironically  from  head  to  heel 
again,  and,  after  offering  five  dollars,  said  very  reluctantly: 

"  Seven-fifty,  and  it's  sinful  extravagance.  Put  the  horse 
in  that  stable  and  don't  give  him  too  much  chop.  Then 
carry  in  those  stove  billets,  and  see  if  Mrs.  Coombs  wants 
anything  to  get  supper  ready." 

I  was  tired  and  sleepy;  but  Coombs  evidently  intended 
to  get  the  value  of  his  seven-fifty  out  of  me  —  he  had  a  way 
of  exacting  the  utmost  farthing  —  and  after  feeding  the 
horse,  liberally,  I  carried  fourteen  buckets  of  water  to  fill  a 
tank  from  the  well  before  at  last  supper  was  ready.  We 
ate  it  together  silently  in  a  long  match-boarded  room  — 
Coombs,  his  wife,  Marvin  the  big  Manitoban  hired  man, 
and  a  curly-haired  brown-eyed  stripling  with  a  look  of 
good  breeding  about  him.  Mrs.  Coombs  was  thin  and 
angular,  with  a  pink-tipped  nose;  and  in  their  dwelling  — 
the  only  place  I  ever  saw  it  on  the  prairie  —  she  and  her 


AN  UNPLEASANT  APPRENTICESHIP     39 

husband  always  sat  with  several  feet  of  blank  table  between 
themselves  and  those  who  worked  for  them.  They  were 
also,  I  thought,  representatives  of  an  unpleasant  type  — 
the  petty  professional  or  suddenly  promoted  clerk,  who, 
lacking  equally  the  operative's  sturdiness  and  the  polish 
of  those  born  in  a  higher  station,  apes  the  latter,  and, 
sacrificing  everything  for  appearance,  becomes  a  poor  bur- 
lesque on  humanity.  Even  here,  on  the  lone,  wide  prairie, 
they  could  not  shake  off  the  small  pretense  of  superiority. 
When  supper  was  finished  —  and  Coombs*  suppers  were 
the  worst  I  ever  ate  in  Canada  —  the  working  contingent 
adjourned  after  washing  dishes  to  the  sod  stable,  where  I 
asked  questions  about  our  employer. 

"  Meaner  than  pizon!  "  said  Marvin.  "  Down  East,  on 
the  'lantic  shore,  is  where  he  ought  to  be.  Guess  he  wore 
them  out  in  the  old  country,  and  so  they  sent  him  here." 

Then  the  young  lad  stretched  out  his  hand  with  frank 
good-nature.  "  I'm  Harry  Lorraine,  premium  pupil  on  this 
most  delectable  homestead.  You're  clearly  fresh  out  from 
England,  and  Fm  sure  we'll  be  good  friends,"  he  said. 
"  Coombs?  Well,  Jim  Marvin  is  right.  Fve  set  him  down 
in  my  own  mind  as  a  defaulting  deacon,  or  something  of 
the  kind.  Did  my  guardian  out  of  a  hundred  and  fifty 
as  premium,  with  duck,  brant-goose,  and  prairie-chicken 
shooting  thrown  in  —  and  he  sees  I've  never  time  to  touch 
a  gun.  However,  Fm  learning  the  business;  and  in  spite 
of  his  quite  superfluous  piety  he  can  farm,  in  a  get-all-you- 
can-for-nothing  kind  of  way." 

"  He  can't,  just  because  of  that  same,"  broke  in  the 
prairie-born.  "  Fm  sick  of  this  talking  religion,  but  you'll 
see  it  written  plain  on  furrow  and  stock  that  when  the 
Almighty  gives  the  good  soil  freely  He  expects  something 
back,  and  not  a  stinting  of  dumb  beasts  and  land  to  roll  up 
money  in  the  bank.     Take  all  and  give  nothing  don't  pan 


40         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

out  worth  the  washing,  and  that  man  will  get  let  down  of 
a  sudden  some  cold  day.  Hallo!  here's  the  blamed  old 
reprobate  coming." 

Coombs  slid  through  the  stable  with  a  cat-like  gait  and 
little  eyes  that  noticed  everything,  while  Harry  leaned 
against  a  stall  defiantly  sucking  at  his  pipe,  and  I  wondered 
whether  I  was  expected  to  be  working  at  something. 

"  Idleness  does  not  pay  in  this  country,  Lorimer,"  he  said, 
with  a  beatific  air.  "  Diligence  is  the  one  road  to  success. 
There  is  a  truss  of  hay  waiting  to  go  through  the  cutter. 
Harry,  I  notice  more  oats  than  need  be  mixed  with  that 
chop." 

He  went  out,  and  Harry  laughed  as  he  said,  "Always 
the  same!  Weighs  out  the  week's  sugar  to  the  teaspoonful. 
But  you  look  tired.  If  you  feed  I'll  work  the  infernal 
chopper." 

So  for  a  time  I  fed  in  the  hay,  while  Harry  swung  up 
and  down  at  the  wheel,  slender  and  debonair  in  spite 
of  his  coarse  blue  garments,  with  merry  brown  eyes.  He 
was  younger  than  I,  and  evidently  inferior  in  muscle;  but, 
as  I  know  now,  he  had  inherited  a  spirit  which  is  greater 
than  mere  bodily  strength.  No  man  had  a  truer  comrade 
than  I  in  Harry  Lorraine,  and  the  friendship  which  com- 
menced in  the  sod  stable  that  night  when  I  was  travel-worn 
and  he  cut  the  hay  for  me  will  last  while  we  two  remain 
on  this  earth,  and  after,  hallowed  in  the  survivor's  memory, 
until  —  but,  remembering  Coombs,  I  know  that  silence  is 
often  reverence,  and  so  leave  Grace's  clean  lips  to  voice 
the  eternal  hope. 

We  went  back  for  family  prayers,  when  Coombs  read  a 
chapter  of  Scripture;  and  he  read  passably  well,  though, 
for  some  reason,  his  tone  jarred  on  me,  while  Harry  fidgeted 
uneasily.  Now  I  think  it  would  jar  even  more  forcibly. 
A  hard  life  face  to  face  with  wild  nature,  among  fearless, 


AN  UNPLEASANT  APPRENTICESHIP     41 

honest  men,  either  by  land  or  sea,  induces,  among  other 
things,  a  becoming  humility.  There  are  times,  out  on  the 
vast  prairie,  when,  through  glories  of  pearl  and  crimson, 
night  melts  into  day,  or  up  in  the  northern  muskegs,  where 
the  great  Aurora  blazes  down  through  the  bitter  frost, 
when  one  stands,  as  it  were,  abashed  and  awe-stricken  under 
a  dim  perception  of  the  majesty  upholding  this  universe. 
Then,  and  because  of  this,  the  man  with  understanding  eyes 
will  never  be  deceived  by  complacent  harangues  on  sacred 
things  from  such  as  Coombs  who  never  lend  a  luckless 
neighbor  seed-wheat,  and  oppress  the  hireling.  Much 
better  seemed  Jasper's  answer  when  Harry  once  asked  him 
for  twenty  acres'  seed :  "  Take  half  that's  in  the  granary, 
if  you  want  it.     Damnation!  why  didn't  you  come  before?  " 

We  retired  early,  Harry  and  I,  to  sleep  in  the  same 
room,  with  the  rusty  stove-pipe  running  through  it;  and 
we  rose,  I  think,  at  four  o'clock;  while  an  hour  later  the 
feet  of  the  big  plow-oxen  were  trampling  the  rich  loam 
where  the  frost  had  mellowed  the  fall  back-setting.  We 
worked  until  nine  that  night,  and  I  had  words  with 
Coombs  when  he  gave  me  directions  about  plowing.  We 
do  not  get  our  land  for  nothing  in  Lancashire,  and  so  learn 
to  work  the  utmost  out  of  every  foot  of  it.  However,  I  do 
not  purpose  to  dilate  upon  either  disc-harrows  or  breaking 
prairie,  nor  even  the  cutting  of  wild  hay  —  which  harsh  and 
wiry  product  is  excellent  feeding  —  for  all  these  matters 
will  be  mentioned  again.  Still,  as  spring  and  summer  rolled 
away,  I  gathered  experience  that  saved  me  a  good  deal  of 
money,  and  I  felt  at  least  an  inch  less  round  the  waist  and 
another  broader  round  the  shoulders. 

Then  one  Saturday  evening,  when  the  northwest  blazed 
with  orange  and  saffron  flame,  I  lay  among  the  tussocks 
of  whispering  grass  reading  for  the  third  or  fourth  time  a 
few  well-worn   letters   from   Cousin   Alice.     Acre   by   acre 


42         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  tall  wheat,  changing  from  green  to  ochre,  rippled  before 
me;  and,  had  its  owner's  hand  been  more  open,  it  would 
have  been  a  splendid  crop.  Marvin,  Harry,  and  I  had 
plowed  for  and  sown  it,  because  Coombs  despised  manual 
labor,  and  confined  himself  chiefly  to  fault-finding.  It 
struck  me  that  if  we  could  do  this  for  another  we  could 
do  even  more  for  ourselves.  My  agreement  expired  at  har- 
vest, and  already  the  first  oats  were  yellowing.  Coombs' 
voice  roused  me  from  a  pleasant  reverie,  wherein  I  sat  once 
more  with  Alice  beside  the  hearth  in  England. 

"  It's  not  dark  yet,  and  there's  the  wire  waiting  for 
the  paddock  fence,"  he  said.  "  I  regret  to  see  you  addicted 
to  loafing.  And  Mrs.  Coombs  has  no  water  left  for  the 
kitchen." 

Saying  nothing,  I  smiled  a  little  bitterly  as  I  marched 
away  to  carry  in  water,  and  then  the  lady,  whose  thin  face 
seemed  sourer  than  usual  that  evening,  set  me  to  wash  the 
supper  dishes.  All  wrent  well  until  I  had  the  misfortune 
to  break  a  stove-cracked  plate,  when  looking  at  me  con- 
temptuously she  said: 

"  How  very  clumsy!  Do  you  know  you  have  cost  me 
two  dollars  already  by  your  breakages  ?  No  —  the  handle 
always  toward  a  lady!  But  what  could  be  expected?  You 
were  never  brought  up." 

Now  the  frying-pan  or  spider  I  held  out  had  stood  with 
its  handle  over  an  open  lid  of  the  range,  so,  though  nettled, 
I  still  held  it  turned  from  her,  and  answered  shortly: 

"  Not  to  wash  dishes,  madam,  though  my  up-bringing  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  case." 

With  an  impatient  gesture  she  reached  over  and  grasped 
the  hot  handle,  then  dropped  it  with  a  cry  just  as  the  door 
opened  and  Coombs  came  in.  This  did  not  displease  me, 
for  if  a  quarrel  must  come  it  comes  best  quickly,  and  I 
listened  unmoved  while  the  mistress  of  the  homestead  said: 


AN  UNPLEASANT  APPRENTICESHIP     43 

"  Walter,  I  think  you  had  better  get  rid  of  this  man.  He 
not  only  breaks  my  crockery,  but  set  a  cruel  trap  to  burn 
my  fingers,  and  I  do  not  choose  to  be  insulted  by  a  hired 
hand." 

"  Have  you  anything  to  say  before  I  turn  you  out  on  the 
prairie?  "  asked  Coombs  pompously;  and  remembering  many 
an  old  grievance  I  answered  with  cheerful  readiness: 

"  Nothing  of  much  moment,  beyond  that  I  warned  Mrs. 
Coombs,  and  it  was  an  accident.  But  it  is  cooler  without, 
and  we  can  discuss  it  better  there." 

He  followed  in  evident  surprise,  and  I  chuckled  when 
he  even  walked  after  me  into  the  stable,  for  already  I 
guessed  that  if  I  left  before  the  harvest  I  might  have  trouble 
about  my  wages.  So  far,  in  spite  of  several  requests, 
Coombs  had  paid  me  nothing.  It  is  also  possible  that  a 
penniless  newcomer  of  peaceful  disposition  might  have  been 
victimized,  but  I  had  learned  in  several  industrial  disputes, 
argued  out  with  clog  and  brickbat  as  well  as  upon  barrel- 
head platforms,  that  there  are  occasions  when  ethical  justice 
may  well  be  assisted  by  physical  force.  Besides,  I  was  a 
Lingdale  Lorimer,  and  would  have  faced  annihilation  rather 
than  let  any  man  rob  me  of  my  right. 

"  I  am  afraid  Mrs.  Coombs  is  prejudiced  against  me, 
and  it  might  save  unpleasantness  if  you  paid  me  my  wages 
and  I  left  this  place  to-night,"  I  said;  and  read  in  Coombs, 
face  that  this  was  by  no  means  what  he  desired.  Wages 
are  high  at  harvest  and  labor  scarce,  while  any  one  with 
a  knowledge  of  working  land  was  a  god-send  at  seven 
dollars  a  month.     But  Coombs  was  equal  to  the  emergency. 

"  I  regret  to  see  so  much  dishonesty  in  one  so  young," 
he  said.  "  Our  bargain  was  until  after  harvest,  and  I'll 
neither  pay  you  a  dollar  nor  give  up  your  boxes  if  you  go 
before.  Let  this  be  a  lesson,  if  I  overlook  it,  to  confine 
yourself  to  the  truth." 


44        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I  forget  what  I  answered  —  we  were  always  a  hot-blooded 
race  —  but  I  fancy  that  several  adjectives  and  the  word 
hypocrite  figured  therein;  while  Coombs,  shaken  out  of  his 
usual  assumption  of  ironical  courtesy,  made  a  serious  mistake 
when  he  tried  bullying.  As  he  strode  toward  me,  fuming 
like  an  irate  turkey  cock,  in  an  absurdly  helpless  attitude, 
I  grasped  his  shoulder  and  backed  him  violently  against  a 
stall.  Then,  and  whether  this  was  justifiable  I  do  not  know, 
though  I  know  that  otherwise  not  a  cent  would  I  ever  have 
got,  I  took  out  his  wallet,  which,  as  he  had  been  selling 
stock  in  Brandon,  contained  a  roll  of  dollar  bills,  and 
counted  out  the  covenanted  hire. 

"  Now  I'm  going  to  borrow  your  spare  horse  to  carry 
my  box,"  I  said.  "  It  will  be  sent  back  from  Jasper's  to- 
morrow, and  if  you  venture  to  interfere  I  shall  be  compelled 
to  hurt  you.  Let  this  also  be  a  lesson  to  you  —  never  try 
to  bluff  an  angry  man  and  put  your  hands  up  like  that." 

I  think  he  swore,  I  am  sure  he  groaned  distressfully 
when  I  went  out  with  what  was  due  to  me.  Meeting 
Harry  I  told  him  the  story. 

"  I  don't  think  my  guardians  care  much  about  me,  and 
I'm  coming  with  you,"  he  said.  "  Good  evening,  Mrs. 
Coombs,  you  may  make  dusters  of  any  old  clothes  I  leave. 
I  am  going  away  with  Mr.  Lorimer,  and  henceforward  I 
am  afraid  you  will  have  to  trust  Marvin,  who'll  certainly 
eat  the  sugar,  or  do  your  own  plate  washing." 

So  twenty  minutes  later,  while  Marvin  stood  chuckling 
on  the  threshold  and  waved  his  hat  to  us,  we  marched  out 
in  triumph,  leading  Coombs'  steed  which  made  an  efficient 
pack-horse.  It  was  dawn  the  next  day  when  aching  and  foot- 
sore we  limped  into  Jasper's.  He  lay  back  in.  his  hide  chair 
laughing  until  there  were  tears  in  his  eyes  when  we  told 
him  the  tale  at  breakfast,  then  smote  me  on  the  back  as  he 
said: 


AN  UNPLEASANT  APPRENTICESHIP     45 

"  Fd  have  given  a  good  deal  to  see  it  —  the  cunning  old 
rascal !  Got  your  full  wages  out  of  him  ?  —  well,  I  guess 
you  broke  the  record.  What  shall  you  do  now  ?  —  stay 
right  where  you  are.  It's  a  bonanza  harvest,  and  I'll  keep 
my  promise;  fifteen  dollars  a  month,  isn't  it?  Mr.  Lor- 
raine !  oh  yes,  I  know  him  —  offer  you  the  same.  Then 
when  harvest's  over  we'll  talk  again." 

Needless  to  say,  we  gladly  accepted  the  offer. 


CHAPTER  V 

A    BID    FOR    FORTUNE 

VX^E  returned  the  horse  with  a  note  of  sarcastic  thanks, 
and  flattered  ourselves  that  we  had  heard  the  last  of 
the  matter.  Several  days  later,  however,  when,  grimed  with 
oil  and  rust,  I  was  overhauling  a  binder,  a  weather-beaten 
man  wearing  a  serviceable  cavalry  uniform  rode  in,  and 
explaining  that  he  was  a  sergeant  of  the  Northwest  Police 
added  that  he  had  come  in  the  first  case  to  investigate  a 
charge  of  assault  and  robbery  brought  against  one  Ralph 
Lorimer  by  Coombs.  I  told  him  as  clearly  as  I  could  just 
what  had  happened,  and  I  fancied  that  his  face  relaxed, 
while  his  eyes  twinkled  suspiciously  as  he  patted  the  fidgeting 
horse,  which  did  not  like  the  binder. 

Then  sitting  rigidly  erect,  the  same  man  who  afterward 
rode  through  an  ambush  of  cattle-stealing  rustlers  who  were 
determined  to  kill  him,  he  said,  "  I'm  thinking  ye  acted 
imprudently  —  maist  imprudently,  but  I'm  not  saying  ye 
could  have  got  your  wages  otherwise  oot  o'  Coombs.  Weel, 
I'll  take  Jasper's  security  for  it  that  ye'll  be  here,  and  away 
back  to  report  to  my  superior.  Don't  think  ye'll  be  wanted 
at  Regina,  Mr.  Lorimer.     Good-morning  til  ye,  Jasper." 

"  Get  down,  Sergeant  Angus,"  said  Jasper,  grasping  his 
rein.  "If  you  have  run  all  decent  whiskey  off  the  face  of 
the  prairie,  I've  still  got  some  hard  cider  to  offer  you.  Say, 
don't  you  think  you  had  better  ride  round  and  lock  up  that 
blamed  old  Coombs  ?  " 

There  was  less  hard  cider  in  the  homestead  when  Sergeant 
Angus  Macfarlane  rode  out  again,  and  our  presence  was 

46 


A  BID  FOR  FORTUNE  47 

never  requested  by  the  Northwest  Police.  Nevertheless,  it 
became  evident  that  either  Coombs  or  his  wife  was  of 
inquiring  as  well  as  revengeful  disposition,  and  had  read 
some  of  the  letters  I  left  about,  for  some  time  later,  when  the 
snowdrifts  raced  across  the  prairie  I  received  the  following 
epistle  from  Martin  Lorimer: 

"  I  return  the  last  letter  sent  your  cousin,  and  until  the 
present  cloud  is  lifted  from  your  name  I  must  forbid  your 
writing  her.  Neither  do  I  desire  any  more  communica- 
tions from  you.  We  all  have  our  failings,  and  there  is 
much  I  could  have  forgiven  you,  but  that  you  should  have 
used  your  position  in  the  mill  to  ruin  that  foolish  girl 
Minnie  Lee  is  more  than  I  can  overlook.  The  story  has 
roused  a  very  bitter  feeling,  even  among  my  own  hands, 
who  are  not  particularly  virtuous,  and  now  that  we  are  on 
the  eve  of  the  elections  some  of  the  other  side's  pettifoggers 
are  using  it  freely.  Still,  I  should  gladly  have  faced  all  that, 
but  for  my  own  shame,  knowing  it  is  true.  Her  father  is 
a  half-mad  religious  fanatic  of  some  sort;  he  came  in  to> 
call  down  vengeance  upon  me,  and  I  laughed  at  him,  as  I 
insulted  the  first  man  who  told  me,  for  his  trouble.  Then 
I  remembered  how  by  chance  I  once  heard  her  arrange  to 
meet  you  in  Winnipeg.  I  understand  the  father  is  going 
out  especially  to  look  for  you,  and  you  had  better  beware  of 
him.  Further,  I  have  a  letter  from  a  man  called  Coombs 
who  brings  a  charge  of  robbery  against  you,  saying  it 
appeared  his  duty  to  advise  me.  This  I  returned  endorsed, 
'  A  lie/  because  none  of  the  Lingdale  Lorimers  ever  stole 
anything  back  to  the  time  of  Hilary,  who  was  hanged  like 
a  Jacobite  gentleman  for  taking  despatches  sword  in  hand 
from  two  of  Cumberland's  dragoons.  If  you  are  ever 
actually  in  want  you  can  let  me  know.  If  not,  I  am  sorry 
to  say  it,  I  do  not  wish  to  hear  from  you." 


48         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Hot  with  rage  I  flung  down  the  letter,  and,  though  how 
it  got  there  never  transpired,  a  tiny  slip  of  paper  fluttered 
out  from  it,  on  which  I  read  the  words,  "  There  is  a 
shameful  story  told  about  you,  Ralph,  but  even  in  spite  of 
my  dislike  at  mentioning  it  I  must  tell  you  that  I  do  not 
believe  a  word  of  it.  Go  on,  trust  in  a  clean  conscience, 
and  the  truth  will  all  come  out  some  day." 

"  God  bless  her  for  her  sweet  charity,"  I  said ;  then  sat 
staring  moodily  across  the  frozen  prairie  until  Harry  touched 
me  on  the  arm. 

"  I  hope  you  have  no  bad  news  from  home,"  he  said. 

I  have  suffered  at  times  from  speaking  too  frankly,  but 
I  had  full  trust  in  Harry,  and  told  him  all,  adding  as  I  held 
out  the  letter: 

"  He  ought  to  know  me  better;  it's  cruel  and  unjust. 
I'll  write  by  the  next  mail  to  Winnipeg  and  send  back  the 
confounded  money  he  gave  me  when  I  came  out.  Read 
that!" 

Harry  did  so  leisurely,  wrinkling  his  brows;  then  he 
said :  "  I  think  I  sympathize  with  your  uncle  —  no,  wait  a 
little.  That  letter  was  written  by  a  man  who  would  much 
more  gladly  have  defended  you  —  you  can  recognize  regret 
running  through  every  line  of  it  —  forced  to  believe  against 
his  wish  by  apparently  conclusive  evidence.  Otherwise,  he 
would  have  ended  with  the  first  sentences.  I  should  like 
him  from  this  letter,  and  should  be  pleased  to  meet  your 
cousin.  In  any  case,  apart  from  the  discourtesy,  you  can't 
send  the  money  back;  from  what  you  told  me  you  are  not 
certain  even  that  it  was  a  present.  Better  write  and  explain 
the  whole  thing,  then  if  he  doesn't  answer  leave  it  to  time." 

I  can  still  see  Harry  standing  wrapped  in  his  long  fur 
coat  looking  down  at  me  with  kindly  eyes.  In  due  time  I 
learned  that  he  gave  me  very  good  counsel,  though  it  was 
much  against  my  wishes  that  I  followed  it. 


A  BID  FOR  FORTUNE  49 

We  worked  hard  for  Jasper  that  harvest  from  the  clear 
cold  dawning  until  long  after  the  broad  red  moon  swung  up 
above  the  prairie.  Day  by  day  the  tinkling  knives  of  the 
binders  rasped  through  the  flinty  stems,  and  the  tossing 
wooden  arms  caught  up  the  tall  wheat  that  went  down 
before  them  and  piled  it  in  golden  sheaves  upon  the  prairie. 
This  one  machine  has  done  great  things  for  the  Western 
Dominion,  for  without  it  when  wheat  is  cheap  and  labor 
dear  many  a  crop  that  would  not  pay  for  the  cutting  would 
rot  where  it  grew.  Jasper,  however,  possessed  one  of  the 
antiquated  kind  which  bound  the  sheaves  with  wire,  and 
occasionally  led  to  wild  language  when  a  length  of  springy 
steel  got  mixed  up  with  the  thrasher.  Every  joint  and 
sinew  ached,  there  were  times  when  we  were  almost  too 
tired  to  sleep,  but  —  and  this  was  never  the  case  with 
Coombs  —  wherever  the  work  was  hardest  the  master  of 
the  homestead  did  two  men's  share,  and  his  cheery  encourage- 
ment put  heart  into  the  rest. 

Then,  drawn  by  many  sturdy  oxen,  the  big  thrasher 
rolled  in,  and  the  pace  grew  faster  still.  The  engine,  like 
others  in  use  thereabout,  shed  steam  and  hot  water  round 
it  from  every  leaky  joint,  and  kept  Harry  busy  feeding  it 
with  birch  billets  and  liquid  from  the  well.  There  were 
sheaves  to  pitch  to  the  separator,  grain  bags  to  be  filled  and 
hauled  to  the  straw-pile  granary,  while  between  times  we 
drove  wagon-loads  of  chaff  and  straw  bouncing  behind  the 
bronco  teams  to  complete  that  altogether  western  structure. 
Its  erection  is  simple.  You  drive  stout  birch  poles  into  the 
sod,  wattle  them  with  willow  branches,  and  lash  on  what- 
ever comes  handiest  for  rafters;  then  pile  the  straw  all  over 
it  several  fathoms  thick,  and  leave  the  wind  and  snow  to  do 
the  rest.  When  it  has  settled  into  shape  and  solidity  it  is 
both  frost  and  rain  proof,  and  often  requires  a  hay-knife  to 
get  into  it. 


50        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

So,  under  a  blue  cloud  of  wood  smoke,  and  amid  blinding 
fibrous  dust,  panting  men,  jolting  wagons,  and  the  musical 
whir  of  the  separator,  the  work  went  on,  until  the  thrashers 
departed,  taking  their  pay  with  them.  Then,  in  the  light 
box-wagons  which  first  rolled  across  the  uneven  prairie 
on  groaning  wheels,  and  then  slid  in  swift  silence  on  runners 
over  the  snow,  we  hauled  the  grain  to  the  railroad  forty 
miles  away.  It  was  done  at  last,  and  Harry  and  I  sat 
by  the  stove  one  bitter  night  considering  our  next  move, 
when  Jasper  came  in  shaking  the  white  crystals  from  his 
furs.  He  saw  we  were  plotting  something,  and  laughed  as 
he  said: 

"  Making  up  your  bill?  We'll  square  it  at  the  fifteen 
dollars  to  the  day  you  hauled  in  the  last  load.  Now  I  heard 
you  talking  of  taking  up  land,  and  I've  been  thinking  some. 
Nothing  to  earn  a  dollar  at  before  the  spring,  and  it  will 
cost  you  considerable  to  board  at  Regina  or  Brandon.  Is 
there  anything  the  matter  with  stopping  here?  If  you  are 
particular  we'll  make  it  a  deal  and  cut  in  three  the  grocery 
bill.  Meantime  you  can  chop  building  lumber  ready  to 
start  your  house  in  spring.  No,  it  isn't  any  favor;  I'll  be 
mighty  glad  of  your  company." 

It  was  a  frank  offer;  we  accepted  it  as  frankly,  and  lived 
like  three  brothers  while  the  prairie  lay  white  and  silent 
month  after  month  under  the  Arctic  frost.  Also  we  found 
that  a  young  Englishman  who  lived  twenty  miles  to  the  west 
was  anxious  to  dispose  of  his  homestead  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  partly  broken  land  at  a  bargain.  We 
rode  over  to  make  inquiries,  and  learned  that  he  had  lost 
several  successive  crops.  Jasper,  however,  said  this  was 
because  he  spent  most  of  his  time  in  shooting,  while  the 
man  who  wished  to  succeed  in  that  region  must  start  his 
work  in  grim  earnest  and  stay  right  with  it.  Now  he  was 
going  out  to  a  berth  in  India,  and  would  take  the  equivalent 


A  BID  FOR  FORTUNE  51 

of  four  hundred  pounds  sterling  for  the  buildings  and  land, 
with  the  implements  and  a  team  of  oxen  thrown  in  —  at 
least  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  down,  and  the  rest  to 
run  at  eight  per  cent,  on  mortgage.  It  was  dirt  cheap  at 
the  money,  but  there  was  no  one  to  buy  it,  he  said,  and 
Jasper,  who  acted  as  our  adviser,  agreed  with  this. 

°  Got  to  make  a  plunge  some  time,  and  risking  nothin* 
you  never  win,"  he  said.  "  Figuring  all  round,  it  will  fit 
you  better  than  breaking  virgin  prairie,  and  you'll  pay  a 
pile  of  that  mortgage  off  if  you  get  a  good  crop  next  fall. 
Then  one  of  you  can  take  up  the  next  quarter-section  free 
land.  More  working  beasts?  I'll  trade  you  my  kicking 
third  team  at  a  valuation,  and  you  can  pay  me  after  harvest. 
If  the  crop  fails?     Well,  I'll  take  my  chances." 

We  spent  one  night  in  calculations  beside  the  glowing 
stove  while  the  shingles  crackled  above  us  under  the  bitter 
cold,  and  found  that  by  staking  everything  we  could  just 
manage  it. 

"  I  dare  say  I  could  raise  a  last  hundred  from  my  admiring 
relatives  by  hinting  that  without  it  I  had  serious  thoughts 
of  returning  home,"  said  Harry.  "  I  don't  know  why,  but 
they're  particularly  anxious  to  keep  me  away." 

There  was  a  ring  of  bitterness  in  his  tone,  and  when  in 
due  time  Harry  got  money  he  did  not  seem  by  any  means 
grateful  for  it.  It  was  long  afterward  before  he  told  me 
much  about  his  affairs,  and  even  then  I  did  not  understand 
them  fully,  though  it  seemed  probable  that  somebody  had 
robbed  him  of  his  patrimony.  Nobody,  however,  troubles 
about  his  comrade's  antecedents  in  the  West,  where  many 
men  have  a  somewhat  vivid  history.  The  new  land  accepts 
them  for  what  they  are  in  the  present,  leaving  the  past 
to  the  mother  country.  So  a  bargain  was  made,  and  the 
vendor  received  his  first  instalments;  and  as  that  winter 
sped  I  looked  forward,  half-fearful,  half-exultant,  to  what 


52         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  coming  year  should  bring.  Our  feet  at  least  were  set 
on  the  long  road  which  leads  to  success,  and  it  was  well  that 
we  could  not  see  the  flints  and  thorns  that  should  wound 
them  cruelly. 

It  was  a  clear  spring  morning,  one  of  those  mornings 
wThich  on  the  wide  grass-lands  fill  one's  heart  with  hope 
and  stir  the  frost-chilled  blood,  when  Harry  and  I  stood 
beside  our  teams  ready  to  drive  the  first  furrow.  A  warm 
breeze  from  the  Pacific,  crossing  the  snow-barred  Rockies, 
set  the  dry  grasses  rippling;  and  the  prairie  running  north- 
ward league  after  league  was  dappled  with  moving  shadow 
by  the  white  cloudlets  that  scudded  across  the  great  vault 
of  blue.  Behind  us  straggling  silver-stemmed  birches  shel- 
tered the  little  log-house  of  Fairmead,  which  nestled  snugly 
among  them,  with  its  low  sod-built  stable  further  among 
the  slender  branches  behind.  Trees  are  scarce  in  that  region, 
and  the  settlers  make  the  most  of  them.  The  white  prairie 
was  broken  by  a  space  of  ashes  and  black  loam,  with  a  fire 
still  crackling  in  crimson  tongues  among  the  stubble  at  the 
further  end  of  it.  Straw  is  worth  nothing  there,  so  a  little 
is  cut  with  the  ear,  and  the  rest  burned  oft  in  spring,  while 
the  grasses  growing  and  rotting  for  countless  centuries  have 
added  to  the  rich  alluvial  left  by  some  inland  sea  which 
covered  all  the  prairie  when  the  world  was  young.  Nature, 
as  those  who  love  her  know,  is  never  in  a  hurry,  and  very 
slowly,  little  by  little,  working  on  through  forgotten  ages, 
she  had  stored  her  latent  wealth  under  the  matted  sod 
against  the  time  when  the  plowshare  should  convert  it  into 
food  for  man  and  beast.  There  is  no  wheat  soil  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth  to  beat  that  of  Assiniboia  and  Manitoba. 

Harry  leaned  on  the  plow-stilts  with  a  smile  on  his  hand- 
some sun-bronzed  face,  and  I  smiled  at  him,  for  we  were 
young  and  hope  was  strong  within  us. 

"  Ralph,  I  feel  a  hankering  after  some  old  heathen  cere- 


A  BID  FOR  FORTUNE  53 

monial,  a  pouring  of  wine  upon  it,  or  a  garlanded  priest  to 
bless  the  fruitful  earth,"  he  said,  "  but  we  put  our  trust  in 
science  and  automatic  binders  now,  and  disregard  the  powers 
of  infinity  until  they  smite  the  crop  down  with  devastating 
hail.  Well,  here's  the  first  stroke  for  fortune.  Get  up! 
Aw  there,  Stonewall!  " 

He  tapped  the  big  red  ox  with  a  pointed  stick,  the  two 
beasts  settled  their  massive  shoulders  to  the  collar,  and  with 
a  soft  greasy  swish  and  a  crackle  of  half-burnt  stubble  the 
moldboard  rolled  aside  the  loam.  I  too  felt  that  this  was 
a  great  occasion.  At  last  I  was  working  my  own  land; 
with  the  plowshare  I  was  opening  the  gate  of  an  unknown 
future;  and  my  fingers  tingled  as  I  jerked  the  lines.  Then 
while  the  coulter  sheared  its  guiding  line,  and  the  trampling 
of  hoofs  mingled  with  the  soft  curl  of  clods,  they  seemed  by 
some  trick  of  memory  to  hammer  out  words  I  had  last 
heard  far  away  in  the  little  weathered  church  under  Star- 
cross  Moor,  "  And  preserve  to  our  use  the  kindly  fruits  of 
the  earth  so  as  in  due  time  we  may  enjoy  them." 

There  was  a  two-hours'  rest  at  noonday,  when  we  fared 
frugally  on  fried  potatoes  and  the  usual  reistit  pork,  while 
Harry's  oxen  waded  deep  into  a  sloo,  which  is  a  lake  formed 
by  melting  snow.  Neither  would  they  come  out  for  either 
threats  or  blandishments  until  he  went  in  too,  with  a  pike; 
while  Jasper's  broncos,  which  were  considerably  less  than 
half-tamed,  backed  round  and  round  in  rings  when  I 
attempted  to  re-harness  them.  Still,,  with  laughter  and 
banter  we  started  again,  and  worked  on  until  daylight  faded 
and  the  stars  twinkled  out  one  by  one  above  the  dewy 
prairie.  The  scent  of  wild  peppermint  hung  heavy  in  the 
cool  air,  which  came  out  of  £he  north  exhilarating  like  wine, 
while  the  birch  twigs  sang  strange  songs  to  us  as  we  drove 
the  teams  to  the  stable  through  the  litter  of  withered  leaves. 
An  hour's  work  followed  before  we  had  made  all  straight 


54        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

there,  and  it  was  with  a  proud  feeling  of  possession  that 
at  last  I  patted  the  neck  of  one  of  the  horses,  while  the 
nervous  creature  looking  up  at  me  with  understanding  eyes 
rubbed  its  head  against  my  shoulder. 

When  the  stove  was  lighted  we  drank  green  tea  and  ate 
more  flapjacks  which  Harry  had  badly  burned.  I  remember 
that  when  he  handed  me  the  first  cup  he  said,  "  We  haven't 
got  champagne,  and  we  don't  want  whiskey,  but  this  is  a 
great  day  for  both  of  us.  Well,  here's  luck  to  the  plowing 
and  increase  to  the  seed,  and,  whether  it's  success  or  failure, 
what  we  have  started  we'll  see  through  together!  " 

Half  ashamed  of  display  of  sentiment,  I  clinked  the 
cracked  cup  against  his  own,  and  Harry  leaned  forward 
toward  me  with  a  smile  that  could  not  hide  the  light  of 
youthful  enthusiasm  in  his  eyes,  graceful,  in  spite  of  the 
mold  of  the  plowing  on  his  fretted  garments.  Then  he 
choked  and  spluttered,  for  the  hot  fluid  scalded  him,  and  a 
roar  of  laughter  saved  the  situation.  Made  as  it  was  over 
a  cup  of  very  smoky  tea,  that  compact  was  carried  out 
faithfully  under  parching  heat  and  bitter  cold,  in  the  biting 
dust  of  alkali  and  under  the  silence  of  the  primeval  bush. 
For  an  hour  wTe  lounged  smoking  and  chatting  in  ox-hide 
chairs,  watching  the  red  glow  from  the  range  door  flicker 
upon  the  guns  and  axes  on  the  wall,  or  the  moonlight 
broaden  across  the  silent  grass  outside  each  time  it  faded, 
until  the  mournful  coyotes  began  to  wail  along  the  rim  of 
the  prairie  and  we  crawled  up  a  ladder  into  the  little  upper 
room,  where  in  ten  minutes  we  were  fast  asleep  on  hard 
wTooden  couches  covered  with  skins.  I  remember  that  just 
before  I  sank  into  oblivion  a  vision  of  a  half-mile  length 
of  golden  wheat  floated  before  my  heavy  eyes,  with  Grace 
Carrington  standing,  sickle  in  hand,  beside  it.  Her  dress 
was  of  the  color  of  the  ear-bent  stems,  her  eyes  as  the  clear 
ether  above,  and  the  sickle  was  brighter  than  any  crescent 


A  BID  FOR  FORTUNE  55 

moon.  Then  it  all  changed.  Powdery  snow  eddied  through 
the  withered  stubble,  and,  against  a  background  of  somber 
firs  that  loomed  above  it,  there  was  only  the  tall  forbidding 
figure  of  Colonel  Carrington.  Afterward  I  often  remem- 
bered that  dream. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  FIRST  CROP 

j^ACH  day  brought  much  the  same  tasks  at  Fairmead 
until  the  disc-harrows  had  rent  up  the  clods,  and  with 
a  seeder  borrowed  from  a  neighbor  ten  miles  away  we  drilled 
in  the  grain.  While  we  worked  the  air  above  us  was  filled 
with  the  beat  of  wings,  as  in  skeins,  wedges,  and  crescents 
the  wild  fowl,  varying  from  the  tiny  butter-duck  to  the 
brant  goose  and  stately  crane,  went  by  on  their  long  journey 
from  the  bayous  by  the  sunny  gulf  to  the  newly  thawTn 
tundra  mosses  beside  the  Polar  Sea.  Legion  by  legion  they 
came  up  from  the  south  and  passed,  though  some  folded  their 
weary  pinions  to  rest  on  the  way,  and  for  a  few  short  weeks 
every  sloo  was  dotted  with  their  plumage.  Then  they  went 
on,  and  we  knew  we  should  see  no  more  of  them  until  the 
first  blasts  of  winter  brought  them  south  again.  All  this 
appealed  to  our  sporting  instincts,  but  time  was  precious 
then,  and  though  I  glanced  longingly  at  Harry's  double- 
barrel,  I  did  not  lift  it  from  the  wall.  Every  moment  had 
its  duties,  and  the  thought  of  the  mortgage  held  us  to  our 
task. 

Then  there  followed  an  interlude  of  building  and  well- 
digging,  when  we  sank  down  some  thirty  feet  or  so,  and 
rammed  the  shaft  sides  with  nigger-head  stones,  wThile  occa- 
sionally some  of  our  scattered  neighbors  rode  twenty  miles 
to  lend  us  assistance.  Meantime,  a  tender  flush  of  emerald 
crept  across  the  crackling  sod,  and  the  birches  unfolded  their 
tiny  leaves  until  the  bluff  shimmered  with  tender  verdure 
silver  inlaid,  while  the  jack-rabbits,  which  had  not  as  yet 

56 


THE  FIRST  CROP  57 

wholly  put  off  their  winter  robes  of  ermine,  scurried,  piebald 
and  mottled,  through  its  shadows.  Then,  while  the  wheat 
grew  taller,  and  the  air  warmer  every  day,  the  prairie 
assumed  an  evanescent  beauty  which  it  presently  put  off 
again,  for  the  flush  faded  from  the  grasses,  and  only  the 
birch  bluff  remained  for  a  refuge  filled  with  cool  neutral 
shadow  in  a  sun-parched  land.  It  was  now  time  for  the 
hay  cutting,  and  we  drove  the  rusty  mower  here  and  there 
across  the  dazzling  plain,  upon  which  willow  grove  and 
bluff  stood  cut  off  from  the  levels  beneath  by  glancing  vapor, 
like  islands  rising  out  of  a  shimmering  sea.  On  much  of  it 
the  grasses  grew  only  to  a  few  inches  in  length,  and  we  had 
therefore  to  seek  winter  food  for  our  beasts  in  each  dried-up 
sloo,  where  they  stood  sometimes  waist-high  and  even  higher. 
No  making  was  needed;  the  sun  already  had  done  that 
better  than  we  could,  and  we  merely  drove  the  mower 
through,  after  which  I  went  back  with  the  loaded  wagon, 
while  Harry  rode  further  out  on  to  the  prairie  in  search  of 
another  sloo. 

The  mosquitoes  came  down  in  legions  and  bit  us  griev- 
ously, until  it  was  necessary  to  anoint  our  hair  with  kerosene. 
Our  dwelling  was  stifling,  so  that  as  a  matter  of  necessity 
we  always  cooked  outside;  but  the  temperature  changed  at 
sundown,  and,  lying  full  length  on  the  peppermint-scented 
hay,  we  rode  home  content  across  the  darkening  prairie, 
which  faded  under  the  starlight  into  the  semblance  of  a 
limitless  dusky  sea,  while  the  very  stillness  voiced  its  own 
message  of  infinity.  Neither  of  us  would  speak  at  such 
times.  Harry  had  a  turn  for  emotional  sentiment,  I  knew, 
but  I  too  could  feel  that  it  was  good  to  lie  there  motionless 
and  silent,  and  try  to  grasp  its  meaning.  Then  the  strained 
sense  of  expectancy  would  fade  at  the  sight  of  the  approach- 
ing homestead,  or  a  bronco  blundering  into  a  badger-hole 
would  call  us  back  to  a  work-a-day  world. 


58         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Harvest  came,  and  that  year  there  was  neither  drought 
nor  untimely  frost,  and  our  hearts  grew  light  when  the 
binders  piled  up  a  splendid  crop.  Still,  when  we  proposed 
to  prepare  a  thanksgiving  feast  for  all  our  neighbors,  Jasper, 
who  had  ridden  over,  grinned  as  he  said,  "  Better  lie  low 
and  pay  off  that  mortgage.  You're  only  starting,  and  they 
wouldn't  expect  it  of  you.  Besides,  you'll  have  had  your  fill 
of   cooking  before   you   have   finished   with   the   thrashers.'1 

This  proved  correct  enough,  for  when  the  men  came  in 
with  the  thrasher  and  the  homestead  vibrated  to  its  hum, 
others  whose  harvests  were  garnered  came  too,  out  of  good- 
will, and  Harry  was  cooking  and  baking  all  day  long. 
Sometimes  for  hours  together  they  kept  me  busy  beheading 
and  plucking  fowls  —  we  turned  a  steam  jet  on  them  from 
the  engine  to  make  the  feathers  come  off;  and  it  amused  me 
to  wonder  what  Alice  would  think  if  she  saw  me  sitting, 
flecked  all  over  with  down,  among  the  feathers,  or  Harry 
standing  grimed  with  dust  and  soot,  peeling  potatoes  by  the 
bucketful  beside  his  field  kitchen.  When  the  thrashers 
departed  our  larder  and  our  henhouse  were  empty,  and  the 
grocery  bill  long;  but  we  were  only  sorry  that  we  could 
not  entertain  them  more  royally,  for  the  men  who  worked 
for  money  at  so  much  the  bushel  and  the  men  who  worked 
for  friendship  vied  with  one  another  in  their  labor,  and 
there  was  no  one  among  them  but  rejoiced  at  our  success. 

Wheat  was  in  good  demand  at  remunerative  prices  that 
year,  and  I  remember  the  day  we  hauled  the  last  load  to 
the  elevators.  Winter  had  set  in  early,  and  wrapped  in 
long  skin  coats  we  tramped  beside  the  wagons  across  the 
waste  of  crackling  sod,  while  the  steam  from  the  horses 
rose  like  smoke  into  the  nipping  air.  We  started  long 
before  the  wTondrous  green  and  crimson  dawn,  for  it  was 
nearly  a  twelve  hours'  journey  to  the  railway  town.  We 
reached  it  finally,  after  a  tiresome  ride;  and  then  for  two 


THE  FIRST  CROP  59 

hours  we  waited  shivering  among  kicking  and  biting  teams 
under  the  gaunt  elevators  before  we  could  haul  in  our 
wagons,  and  for  perhaps  fifteen  minutes  there  was  a  great 
whirring  of  wheels.  Then  they  were  drawn  forth  empty, 
and  presently  we  came  out  of  the  office  with  sundry  signed 
papers  readily  convertible  into  coin  at  Winnipeg,  and 
marched  exultant  to  the  hotel,  scarcely  feeling  the  frozen 
earth  beneath  us  in  spite  of  our  weariness.  No  spirituous 
liquor  might  be  sold  there,  but  for  once  we  meant  to  enjoy 
an  ample  meal  which  we  had  not  cooked  ourselves,  served 
on  clean  plates  and  a  real  white  tablecloth. 

It  was  a  simple  banquet,  but  we  felt  like  feasting  kings, 
and  though  since  then  we  have  both  sat  at  meat  among 
railroad  magnates,  deputations  from  Ottawa,  and  others 
great  in  the  land,  we  never  enjoyed  one  like  it.  Harry, 
forgetting  he  was  in  Western  Canada,  tried  to  slip  a  silver 
half-dollar  into  the  waitress'  hand,  who  dropped  it  on  the 
floor,  perhaps  because  in  that  region  wages  are  such  that 
the  hireling  is  neither  dependent  on  nor  looks  for  a  stranger's 
generosity.  I  stooped  to  raise  the  coin  and  hand  it  her, 
and  then  started  as  for  the  first  time  our  eyes  met,  while 
a  wave  of  color  suffused  the  face  of  the  girl  who  stepped 
backward,  for  it  was  Minnie  Lee. 

"  Harry,"  I  said,  stretching  out  my  hand  to  her.  "  This 
is  the  lady  I  told  you  about.  You  remember  the  letter. 
Now  go  along,  and  settle  matters  with  the  proprietor.  Sit 
down,  Minnie,  I  want  to  talk  to  you.  Tell  me  how  you 
came  here,  and  why  you  left  England,  won't  you?  " 

The  girl  had  lost  her  pink-and-white  prettiness.  Her  face 
was  pale,  and  she  was  thinner  than  before,  while  there  was 
a  hard,  defiant  look  in  her  eyes.  Besides,  she  seemed  ill 
at  ease  and  startled  when  I  drew  out  a  chair  for  her,  and  I 
too  was  singularly  ill  at  ease.  We  had  the  long  room  to 
ourselves,  however,  for  on  the  prairie  meals  are  served  at  a 


60        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

definite  hour,  and  usually  despatched  in  ten  minutes  or  so. 
Few  men  there  waste  time  lounging  over  the  table. 

"  I  hardly  knew  you,  Ralph  —  you  have  changed  so 
much,"  she  said,  and  I  only  nodded,  for  I  was  impatient  to 
hear  her  story;  and  she  had  surely  changed  far  more  than  I. 
The  Minnie  I  used  to  know  was  characterized  by  a  love  of 
mischief  and  childish  vanity,  but  the  present  one  wore  rather 
the  air  of  a  woman  with  some  knowledge  of  life's  tragedy. 

"  It's  almost  an  old  story  now,"  she  said  bitterly.  "  Fa- 
ther had  a  craze  for  religion,  mother  was  always  sighing, 
and  there  was  no  peace  at  home  for  me.  Then  I  met  Tom 
Fletcher  again  —  you  remember  him  —  and  when  he  took 
me  to  concerts  and  dances  I  felt  at  last  that  I  had  begun  to 
live.  The  endless  drudgery  in  the  mill,  the  little  house  in 
the  smoky  street,  and  the  weary  chapel  three  times  each 
Sunday,  were  crushing  the  life  out  of  me.  You  understand 
—  you  once  told  me  you  felt  it  all,  and  you  went  out  in 
search  of  fortune ;  but  what  can  a  woman  do  ?  Still,  I  dare 
not  tell  father.  All  gaiety  was  an  invention  of  the  devil, 
according  to  him.  We  were  married  before  the  registrar  — 
Tom  had  reasons.  I  cannot  tell  you  them;  but  we  were 
married,"  and  she  held  up  a  thin  finger  adorned  by  a 
wedding-ring. 

I  remembered  Fletcher  as  a  good-looking  clerk  with  a 
taste  for  betting  and  fanciful  dress,  who  had  been  discharged 
from  the  Orb  mill  for  inattention  to  his  duties,  and  I  won- 
dered that  Minnie  should  have  chosen  him  from  among  her 
many  other  admirers  of  more  sterling  character. 

"  I  said  nothing  to  any  one,"  she  continued.  "  Tom  was 
disappointed  about  something  on  which  he  had  counted. 
He'd  got  into  trouble  over  his  accounts,  too.  There  had 
been  a  scene  with  father,  who  said  I  was  a  child  of  the  devil, 
arid  when  Tom  told  me  there  was  false  accusation  against 
him,  and  nobody  must  know  we  were  going,  we  slipped  away 


THE  FIRST  CROP  61 

quietly.  I  was  too  angered  to  write  to  father,  and  it  might 
have  put  the  police  on  Tom.  Tom  was  innocent,  he  said. 
We  had  very  little  money,  work  was  hardly  to  be  had  — 
and  our  child  died  soon  after  we  settled  in  Winnipeg." 

"  Go  on,"  I  said  gently,  and  she  clenched  her  hands  with 
a  gesture  that  expressed  fierce  resentment  as  well  as  sorrow 
as  she  added: 

"  The  poor  little  innocent  thing  had  no  chance  for  its 
life  —  we  were  short  of  even  bare  necessities,  for  Tom  could 
pick  up  only  a  few  dollars  now  and  then  —  and  I  think  that 
all  that  was  good  in  me  died  with  it.  So  wThen  he  found 
work  watching  the  heater  of  a  store  a  few  hours  each  night, 
and  the  wages  would  not  keep  two,  I  had  to  go  out  and 
earn  my  bread  here  —  and  I  sometimes  wish  I  had  never 
been  born." 

I  made  no  answer  for  a  space.  There  was  nothing  I 
could  say  that  might  soften  such  trouble  as  was  stamped 
on  her  face ;  although  I  remembered  having  heard  Jasper  say 
that  a  weight  clerk  was  wanted  at  the  new  elevator  further 
down  the  line.     Then,  blundering  as  usual,  I  said : 

"  Do  you  know,  Minnie,  they  blame  me  at  home  for 
bringing  you  out  here,  and  I  heard  that  your  father  had 
sworn  to  be  revenged  upon  me  ?  " 

There  was  sullen  fury  in  the  girl's  eyes  —  she  was  very 
young  after  all  —  but  she  kept  herself  in  hand,  and  answered 
bitterly : 

"  It  was  like  their  lying  tongues.  Envy  and  malice,  and 
always  some  one's  character  to  be  taken  away.  No;  it  was 
Tom  —  and  Tom,  God  help  us  both,  has  lost  his  head  and 
drinks  too  much  when  he  can.  But  I  must  not  keep  you, 
Ralph  Lorimer,  and  henceforward  you  have  nothing  to  do 
with  me." 

A  voice  called  "  Minnie,"  and  I  had  only  time  to  say, 
"  Perhaps  I  can  find  some  better  work  for  him ;  and  you 


62         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

will  write  home  and  tell  them  the  truth  for  your  own  and 
my  sake,  wTon't  you?  "  before  she  hurried  away. 

Then  Harry  and  I  walked  down  to  the  freight-siding, 
where  the  big  box  cars  hauled  out  ready  from  under  the 
elevators  were  waiting.  Two  huge  locomotives  were  pres- 
ently coupled  on,  there  followed  a  clanging  of  bells,  and 
we  watched  the  twinkling  tail-lights  grow  dimmer  across 
the  prairie.  Part  of  our  harvest,  we  knew,  was  on  board 
that  train,  starting  on  the  first  stage  of  its  long  journey  to 
fill  with  finest  flour  the  many  hungry  mouths  that  were 
waiting  for  it  in  the  old  land  we  had  left  behind.  The 
lights  died  out  in  a  hollow  far  away  on  the  prairie's  rim,  and 
Harry  slipped  his  arm  through  mine,  perhaps  because  his 
heart  was  full.  With  much  anxiety,  ceaseless  toil,  and  the 
denying  ourselves  of  every  petty  luxury,  we  had  called  that 
good  grain  forth  from  the  prairie,  and  the  sale  of  it  meant 
at  least  one  year  free  from  care. 

Before  we  turned  away,  straight  as  the  crow  flies  a 
cavalcade  came  clattering  up  out  of  the  silent  prairie,  while, 
after  a  jingle  of  harness,  merry  clear-pitched  voices  filled  the 
station,  and  something  within  me  stirred  at  the  sound. 
There  was  no  trace  of  Western  accent  here,  though  the 
prairie  accent  is  rarely  unpleasant,  for  these  were  riders  from 
Carrington  who  spoke  pure  English,  and  were  proud  of  it. 
Two,  with  a  certain  courtliness  which  also  was  foreign  to 
that  district,  helped  an  elderly  lady  down  from  a  light 
carriage  luxuriously  hung  on  springs,  which  must  have  been 
built  specially  at  the  cost  of  many  dollars,  and  the  rest  led 
their  well-groomed  horses  toward  the  store  stables,  or  strolled 
beside  the  track  jesting  with  one  another.  None  of  them 
wore  the  skin  coats  of  the  settlers.  Some  were  robed  in 
furs,  and  others  in  soft-lined  deerskin,  gaily  fringed  by 
Blackfoot  squaws,  which  became  them;  but  except  for  this 
they  were  of  the  British  type  most  often  met  with  gripping 


THE  FIRST  CROP  63 

the  hot  double-barrel  when  the  pheasants  sweep  clattering 
athwart  the  wood,  or  sitting  intent  and  eager  with  tight 
hand  on  the  rein  outside  the  fox  cover. 

Still,  no  one  could  say  they  had  suffered  by  their  transla- 
tion to  a  new  country,  which  was  chiefly  due  to  Colonel 
Carrington.  He  had  been  successful  hitherto  at  wheat- 
growing  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  though  few  of  the 
settlers  liked  him  they  could  not  help  admiring  the  bold  far- 
seeing  way  in  which  he  speculated  on  the  chances  of  the 
weather,  or  hedged  against  a  risky  wheat  crop  by  purchasing 
western  horses.  Still,  not  content  with  building  up  the 
finest  property  thereabout,  he  aspired  to  rule  over  a  British 
settlement,  and  each  time  that  he  visited  the  old  country  at 
regular  intervals  several  young  Englishmen  of  good  family 
and  apparently  ample  means  returning  with  him  commenced 
breaking  virgin  prairie.  They  were  not  all  a  success  as 
farmers,  the  settlers  said,  and  there  were  occasional  rumors 
of  revolt;  but  if  they  had  their  differences  with  the  grim 
autocrat  they  kept  them  loyally  to  themselves,  and  never 
spoke  in  public  of  their  leader  save  with  respect.  Now  it 
was  evident  that  his  daughter  was  expected  ?  they  had  come 
to  escort  her  home  in  state,  and  no  princess  could  have 
desired  a  finer  bodyguard.  They  were  the  pick  of  the  old 
country's  well-born  youth  when  they  came  out,  and  now  they 
had  grown  to  a  splendid  manhood  in  the  wide  spaces  of  the 
prairie. 

Though  they  answered  our  greetings  with  good  fellow- 
ship, I  am  afraid  we  regarded  them  a  little  enviously,  for  the 
value  of  some  of  their  horses  would  have  sown  us  a  crop, 
and  even  Harry  seemed  unkempt  beside  them.  We  lived 
and  dressed  very  plainly  at  Fairmead  that  year.  Then  amid 
a  grinding  of  brakes,  with  lights  flashing,  a  long  train  rolled 
in,  and  the  group  stood,  fur  cap  in  hand,  about  the  platform 
of  a  car  from  which  a  dainty  figure  looked  down  at  them. 


64         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

It  was  Grace  Carrington,  and  as  I  stood  a  little  apart  from 
the  rest  my  heart  leaped  at  the  sight  of  her.  Yet,  either  from 
bashfulness  or  foolish  pride,  I  would  not  move  a  step  nearer. 

"What  a  picture !"  said  Harry  softly.  "A  princess  of 
the  prairie  and  her  subjects  doing  homage  to  her!  Ralph, 
I  say,  you  must  not  stare  at  the  girl  like  that.  But,  by 
Jove,  she's  smiling  this  way  —  yes,  she  is  really  beckoning 
you!" 

It  was  true,  for  a  stripling  who  wore  his  deerskin  jacket 
as  though  it  were  the  dolman  of  a  cavalry  officer  strode 
forward,  and  inclining  his  head  said: 

"  If  you  are  Mr.  Lorimer,  Miss  Carrington  desires  to 
speak  with  you." 

For  some  reason  I  drew  Harry  with  me.  It  may  have 
been  that  I  felt  the  company  of  a  comrade  of  my  own  kind 
would  be  comforting  in  that  assembly;  and  then  I  forgot 
everything  as,  fixing  her  bright  eyes  on  me,  Grace  held 
out  her  hand. 

"  It  was  kind  of  you  to  meet  me,  and  this  is  an  unexpected 
pleasure,"  she  said.  "  You  must  come  over  to  Carrington 
and  tell  me  where  you  have  settled.  Or  stay,  Raymond, 
this  is  Mr.  Lorimer  —  he  was  kind  to  me  in  England,  and 
I  want  you  to  invite  him  to  your  approaching  festivities. 
You  will  come,  won't  you,  and  bring  your  friend  —  very 
pleased  to  see  you  Mr.  Lorraine,  too;  then  I  shall  have  an 
opportunity  for  talking  with  you." 

"  Delighted,  of  course,  to  please  you,"  said  a  tall  bronzed 
man  of  maturer  years,  bowing.  "  Met  Mr.  Lorimer  al- 
ready; pulled  my  wagon  up  most  kindly  when  the  team  was 
stalled  in  a  ravine.  If  I'd  known  you  were  from  the  old 
country  would  have  ridden  over  already  to  ask  you." 

Further  introductions  followed,  all  effected  in  a  queenly 
way,  and  with  a  last  pleasant  glance  toward  us  Grace  moved 
toward    the    carriage,    while    I    fancied    that    some    of    the 


THE  FIRST  CROP  65 

younger  among  her  bodyguard  regarded  us  jealously.  Harry 
and  I  stood  silent  until  the  cavalcade  vanished  into  the 
dimness,  and  then,  while  the  last  beat  of  hoofs  died  away, 
the  blood  surged  through  every  artery  as  he  said: 

"  Wasn't  she  splendid !  When  she  held  out  her  hand  to 
me  I  felt  that  I  ought  to  go  down  on  one  knee  and  kiss 
it,  and  all  that  kind  of  thing,  you  know.  Ralph,  you 
stalked  up  like  a  bear;  must  have  been  dazed  by  too  much 
brightness,  because  you  never  even  raised  your  hat.  Well, 
one  can  understand  it;  but  I  think  some  of  the  others 
would  have  liked  to  cut  your  big  solid  throat  for  you." 

Harry  was  both  enthusiastic  and  impressionable,  though 
I  did  not  think  so  then,  and  the  whole  scene  could  scarcely 
have  lasted  five  minutes,  but  it  filled  my  mind  for  days  after- 
ward, and  I  can  recall  it  clearly  still. 


CHAPTER  VII 

HARVEST  HOME 

T  T  was  a  bitter  night  when  Harry  and  I  rode  into  the  red 
glow  of  light  that  beat  out  through  the  windows  of 
Lone  Hollow,  the  furthest  outlying  farm  of  the  Carrington 
group,  where,  now  that  the  last  bushel  of  his  wheat  had 
been  sold  in  Winnipeg,  Raymond  Lyle  was  celebrating  a 
bounteous  harvest.  Round  about  it,  drawn  up  in  ranks, 
stood  vehicles  —  or  rigs,  as  we  call  them  —  of  every  kind, 
for  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  country-side  had  driven  in. 
Most  of  them  were  of  better  make  than  those  we  and  the 
majority  of  the  poorer  settlers  used,  and  it  was  hard  not  to 
covet  when  we  managed  to  find  a  stall  for  our  beasts. 

When  one  has  wasted  precious  time  that  in  the  whole 
season  can  scarcely  be  made  up  again,  by  riding  behind 
oxen  at  the  exhilarating  pace  of  some  two  miles  an  hour,  or 
hauling  in  grain  with  half-tamed  horses  which  jib  at  every 
hill,  it  is  easy  to  realize  the  advantages  of  an  efficient  team, 
and  any  of  those  we  saw  in  the  Lone  Hollow  stables  would 
have  saved  us  many  dollars  each  year.  Even  in  the  West 
the  poor  man  is  handicapped  from  the  beginning,  and  must 
trust  to  ready  invention  and  lengthened  hours  of  labor  to 
make  up  for  the  shortcomings  of  indifferent  tools. 

Lyle,  who  had  heard  the  trampling  of  hoofs,  met  us  at 
the  door.  "  It  was  kind  of  you  to  come,  and  I  hope  you 
will  enjoy  yourselves,"  he  said.  "  We  have  tried  to  make 
things  homely,  but,  as  you  know,  this  isn't  England." 

We  shook  off  our  wrappings  and  entered  the  long  lamp- 

66 


HARVEST  HOME  67 

lit  hall,  partly  dazed  by  the  sudden  glare  and  warmth  after 
the  intense  cold.  It  certainly  was  different  from  anything 
I  had  seen  at  home,  for  here  in  place  of  paint  and  gilding 
the  decoration  was  in  harmony  with  the  country,  bizarre  and 
bountiful,  with  a  beauty  that  was  distinctly  its  own.  Few 
oat-heads  grown  from  English  furrows  might  compare  with 
the  pale  golden  tassels  that  drooped  in  graceful  festoons  from 
the  wall,  while  among  the  ruddier  wheat-ears  and  bearded 
barley,  antelope  heads  peeped  out  beside  the  great  horns 
of  caribou  which  the  owner  of  Lone  Hollow  had  shot  in 
the  muskegs  of  the  north.  Rifles  and  bright  double-bitted 
axes  of  much  the  same  pattern  as  those  with  which  our 
forbears  hewed  through  Norman  mail  caught  the  light  of 
the  polished  brass  lamps  and  flashed  upon  the  wainscot, 
while  even  an  odd  cross-cut  saw  had  been  skillfully  impressed 
into  the  scheme  of  ornamentation.  But  there  was  nothing 
pinchbeck  or  tawdry  about  them.  Whirled  high  by  sinewy 
hands,  or  clenched  in  hard  brown  fingers  while  a  steady 
eye  stared  down  the  barrel,  that  a  bridge  might  span  a 
ravine  where  no  bridge  had  been,  or  venison  help  to  cut 
down  the  grocery  bill  and  leave  the  more  for  the  breaking 
of  virgin  soil,  that  steel  had  played  its  part  in  the  opening 
up  of  a  wide  country.  Yet,  the  suggestion  of  strict  utility 
even  enhanced  its  effectiveness,  and  I  remembered  with  a 
smile  the  trophies  of  weapons  stamped  out  by  the  gross  in 
Birmingham  which  I  had  seen  adorning  our  suburban  villas 
at  home. 

The  majority  of  the  guests  were  English  —  one  could  see 
that  at  a  glance,  and  the  mother  country  had  small  reason 
to  be  ashamed  of  her  outland  sons.  The  clear  skin  showed 
through  the  snow-blink's  tan,  and  the  eyes  were  bright  with 
a  steadfastness  that  comes  from  gazing  into  wide  distance. 
Sun,  wind,  and  snow,  the  dust  of  parched  earth  and  the 
stinging  smoke  of  the  drifts,  had  played  their  part  in  harden- 


68         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ing  them,  but  still,  a  little  deeper  in  color,  a  little  stronger 
in  limb,  they  were  the  same  men  one  finds  dwelling  in 
many  an  English  home.  Standing  beside  a  great  open 
hearth,  on  which  to  aid  the  stove  a  huge  pile  of  birch  logs 
crackled  joyously,  the  representative  of  an  alien  race  drew  a 
cunning  bow  across  the  strings  of  a  dingy  violin.  He  sprang 
from  Gallic  stock,  a  descendant  of  the  old  coureurs  who  for 
two  centuries  wandered  in  search  of  furs  across  the  wilder- 
ness, even  as  far  as  the  northern  barrens,  before  the  Briton 
came  to  farm.  It  was  a  waltz  he  played  —  at  least,  that 
was  the  time;  but  the  music  seemed  rilled  with  the  sighing 
of  limitless  pines,  and  the  air  was  probably  known  in  France 
three  hundred  years  ago.  Still,  weather-beaten  men,  and 
fair  women  who  were  considerably  less  numerous,  swept 
light-heartedly  round  to  it,  and  when,  declining  refreshment 
then,  we  found  a  corner,  Harry  and  I  sat  staring  with  all 
our  eyes  at  the  scene  before  us. 

After  the  monotonous  labor  of  the  past  two  years  the 
swish  of  light  dresses  and  the  rhythmic  patter  of  feet,  with 
the  merry  faces  and  joyous  laughter,  moved  me  strangely. 
All  this  seemed  to  belong  to  a  different  world  from  the  one 
in  which  we  had  been  living,  and  I  wondered  whether  any 
of  those  dainty  daughters  of  Carrington  would  deign  to 
dance  with  me.  They  might  have  been  transplanted  like 
English  roses  from  some  walled  garden  at  home,  and  their 
refined  beauty  had  grown  to  a  fuller  blossom  on  the  prairie. 
Still,  I  knew  they  would  have  faded  in  the  dry  heat  of 
the  dwellings  in  an  Eastern  town. 

"  How  do  those  French-Canadians  learn  to  play  like 
that?"  said  Harry.  "No  one  taught  them;  inherited  it,  I 
suppose.  I  know  that  air;  it's  very  old,  and  he's  taking 
liberties  with  it  masterfully ;  now  it's  like  the  cypress  singing 
in  the  big  coulee.  Of  course,  it  wasn't  learned  in  one 
generation,  but  why  does  a  waltz  of  that  kind  unsettle  one 


HARVEST  HOME  69 

so,  with  a  suggestion  of  ancient  sorrow  sighing  through  its 
gladness?  But  I'm  forgetting,  and  vaporing  again.  We 
are  ox-drivers,  you  and  I." 

I  nodded  silently,  for  I  had  not  the  gift  of  ready  speech, 
and  it  was  Harry  who  most  often  put  my  thoughts  into 
words  for  me.     Then  I  grew  intent  as  he  said : 

"  There  she  is.  Who !  —  Miss  Carrington  —  is  there 
any  one  else  to  look  at  when  she  is  in  the  room?  " 

Grace  floated  past  us  dressed  as  I  had  somewhere  seen 
her  before  and  could  not  recall  it,  though  the  memory 
puzzled  me.  Neither  do  I  know  what  she  wore,  beyond  that 
the  fabric's  color  was  of  the  ruddy  gold  one  sees  among  the 
stems  of  ripening  grain,  while  wheat  ears  nestled  between  her 
neck  and  shoulder,  and  rustled  like  barley  rippling  to  the 
breeze,  as  with  the  music  embodied  in  each  movement  of 
her  form  she  whirled  by  us  on  Ormond's  arm.  He  looked 
as  he  did  when  I  last  saw  him,  placidly  good-humored,  with 
the  eyeglass  dangling  this  time  loosely  by  its  cord. 

Then  I  drew  in  my  breath  as  the  music  ceased,  and 
Raymond  Lyle  approached  us,  saying:  "As  usual,  men  are 
at  a  discount,  but  you  have  not  had  a  dance,  and  most  of  the 
others  have.  Come,  and  I'll  find  you  partners.  Ah,  if 
you  are  not  tired,  Miss  Carrington,  will  you  take  pity  on 
an  old  friend  of  yours?  I  have  many  duties,  and  you  will 
excuse  me." 

He  withdrew  quickly,  and  Grace  smiled.  "  One  must 
never  be  too  tired  to  dance  with  an  old  friend  at  a  prairie 
feast,"  she  said,  running  her  pencil  through  the  initials  on  a 
program  which  had  traveled  several  hundred  miles  from 
Winnipeg.  Then  I  felt  uncomfortable,  for  I  guessed  the 
letters  R.  L.  represented  my  host,  who  had  good-naturedly 
made  way  for  me.  It  was  a  kindly  thought,  but  Raymond 
Lyle,  who  was  a  confirmed  bachelor  living  under  his  self- 
willed  sister's  wing,  had  evidently  guessed  my  interest  and 


70         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

remembered  the  incident  of  the  jibbing  team.  It  was  a 
square  dance,  and  Harry  with  a  laughing  damsel  formed  my 
vis-a-vis,  but  having  eyes  only  for  my  partner  I  saw  little 
but  a  moving  mixture  of  soft  colors  and  embroidered  deer- 
skin, for  some  of  the  men  were  dressed  in  prairie  fashion. 
I  felt  her  warm  breath  on  my  neck,  the  shapely  form  yielding 
to  my  arm,  and  it  was  small  wonder  that  I  lost  myself  in 
the  glamour  of  it,  until  with  the  crash  of  a  final  chord  from 
the  piano  the  music  stopped. 

"And  you  have  not  danced  for  four  years!  "  she  said  as 
I  led  her  through  the  press.  "  Well,  it  has  all  come  back 
to  you,  and  out  here  there  is  so  much  more  than  dancing 
for  a  man  to  do.  Yes,  you  may  put  down  another,  there 
toward  the  end,  and  fill  in  the  next  one  two.  I  have  been 
looking  forward  to  a  quiet  talk  with  you." 

I  was  left  alone  with  pulses  throbbing.  There  was  very 
little  in  what  she  said,  but  her  face  showed  a  kindly  interest 
in  our  doings,  and  it  was  no  small  thing  that  the  heiress  of 
Carrington  should  place  me  on  the  level  of  an  old  friend. 
Harry  was  chatting  merrily  with  his  late  partner,  who 
seemed  amused  at  him,  and  this  was  not  surprising,  for 
Harry's  honest  heart  was  somewhat  strangely  united  with  a 
silver  tongue,  and  all  women  took  kindly  to  him.  I  found 
other  partners  and  he  did  the  same,  so  it  was  some  time  be- 
fore we  met  again,  and  I  remember  remarking  that  all  this 
gaiety  and  brightness  seemed  unreal  after  our  quarters  at 
Fairmead,  and  ended  somewhat  lamely: 

"  I  suppose  it's  out  of  mere  pity  she  danced  with  me.  As 
you  said,  we  are  of  the  soil,  earthy,  and  a  princess  of  the 
prairie  is  far  beyond  our  sphere.  Yet  she  seemed  genuinely 
pleased  to  see  me.     If  it  were  even  you,  Harry!  " 

He  laughed  as  he  pointed  to  a  large  mirror  draped  in 
cypress,  saying,  "  Look  into  that.  You  are  slow  at  under- 
standing certain  matters,   Ralph.     Not  seen   the  whole  of 


HARVEST  HOME  71 

your  noble  self  in  a  glass  for  two  years?  Neither  have  I. 
And  it  hasn't  dawned  upon  you  that  you  came  out  in  the 
transition  stage  —  a  grub,  or  shall  we  say  a  chrysalis  ?  No, 
don't  wrinkle  your  forehead;  it's  only  an  allegory.  Now 
you  have  come  out  of  the  chrysalis  —  see?  " 

Part  of  this  was  certainly  true,  for  at  Coombs'  we  had 
the  broken  half  of  a  hand-glass  to  make  our  simple  toilet, 
and  at  Fairmead  a  whole  one  of  some  four  inches  diameter 
which  cost  two  bits,  tin-backed,  at  the  store,  and  I  remem- 
ber saying  that  it  was  an  extravagance.  Now  I  stared  into 
the  long  glass,  standing  erect  in  my  one  gala  garment  of 
fringed  deerskin. 

"  A  little  too  bull-necked,,,  Harry  remarked  smiling, 
**  but,  except  for  Raymond  Lyle,  the  stiffest-framed  man  in 
the  room.  Solid  and  slow  from  shoulders  to  ankles;  head 
—  shall  we  say  that  of  a  gladiator,  or  a  prize-fighter  ?  Good 
gracious,  Ralph,  remember  you're  in  a  ball  room,  not  try- 
ing on  your  trousseau." 

His  remarks  were  not  exactly  flattering,  but  for  the  first 
time  I  felt  glad  to  stand  a  strong  man  among  those  who 
had  other  advantages  behind  them,  though  I  fumed  inwardly 
when  presently  I  heard  Harry's  partner  say: 

"  What  a  curious  man  your  friend  is!  I  saw  him  stand- 
ing before  the  big  glass  actually  admiring  himself." 

And  Harry  had  the  mendacity  to  assure  her  that  this 
was  a  favorite  habit  of  mine. 

Afterward  I  chatted  for  a  time  with  the  giver  of  the 
feast.  We  had  much  in  common,  for  he  was  a  stalwart 
plainly  spoken  man  whose  chief  concern  was  the  improve- 
ment of  his  holding,  and  from  what  he  said  it  was  clear  that 
taking  season  by  season  his  bank  account  increased  but  little, 
while  he  mentioned  that  several  of  his  neighbors  lost  a  cer- 
tain sum  yearly.  There  are  two  ways  of  farming  in  the 
West,  and  it  seemed  that  after  all  Harry  and  I  had  chosen 


72         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  better,  the  creeping  on  from  acre  to  acre,  living  frugally, 
and  doing  oneself  whatever  is  needed,  then  investing  each 
dollar  hardly  saved  in  better  implements. 

Nevertheless,  I  saw  that  the  men  of  Carrington  who 
followed  the  other  plan,  spending  and  hiring  freely,  were 
doing  a  good  work  for  the  country,  because  even  if  they 
lost  a  small  sum  each  year  most  of  them  could  afford  it,  and 
their  expenses  would  have  been  much  greater  at  home. 
They  helped  to  maintain  a  demand  for  good  horses  and  the 
product  of  clever  workmen's  skill;  they  supported  the 
storekeepers  of  the  wooden  towns;  and  the  poorer  settlers 
could  always  earn  a  few  dollars  by  working  for  them.  So  it 
dawned  upon  me  that  it  is  well  for  the  nation  that  some  are 
content  to  take  their  pleasure,  as  these  men  did,  in  an  occu- 
pation that  brought  them  small  profit,  sinking  their  surplus 
funds  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  will  follow  them.  Neither 
does  the  mother  country  lose,  because  she  reaps  the  fruit  of 
their  labors  in  the  shape  of  cheap  and  wholesome  food. 

At  last  the  conversation  drifted  around  to  the  founder  of 
Carrington. 

"  An  austere  man,"  said  Lyle,  "  and  he's  somewhat  dif- 
ferent from  the  rest  of  us  —  ready  to  gather  in  wherever 
he  can,  very  hard  to  get  ahead  of  at  a  deal ;  but  if  he  is  keen 
it's  all  for  the  sake  of  his  daughter.  There  are  two  things 
Carrington  is  proud  of,  one  is  this  settlement,  and  the  other 
his  heiress.  He's  not  exactly  an  attractive  personage,  but 
there  are  whispers  that  some  painful  incident  in  her  mother's 
life  soured  him,  and  one  learns  to  respect  him.  His  word 
is  better  than  most  other  men's  bond,  and  if  his  will  is  like 
cast  iron  his  very  determination  often  saves  trouble  in  the 
end." 

Silence  succeeded,  for  bold  chords  of  music  held  the  as- 
sembly still,  and  I  saw  Harry  seated  at  the  piano,  which 
apparently  had  escaped  serious  damage  in  its  long  transit 


HARVEST  HOME  73 

across  the  prairie.  This  was  a  surprise,  for  I  had  not 
suspected  Harry  of  musical  proficiency.  There  was  power 
in  his  fingers,  hardened  as  they  were,  and  when  the  ringing 
prelude  to  an  English  ballad  filled  the  room  more  than  his 
partner  felt  that  he  could  call  up  a  response  to  his  own 
spirit  from  the  soul  of  the  instrument.  The  lad  beside  him 
also  sang  well,  perhaps  because  he  was  young  and  sentiment 
was  strong  within  him,  but  sturdy  labor  under  the  open 
heaven  seems  inimical  to  the  development  of  hypercritical 
cynicism,  and  the  men  who  at  home  would  probably  have 
applauded  that  song  with  an  indulgent  smile  listened  with 
kindling  eyes  and  then  made  the  long  room  ring  with  their 
bravos.  Here,  far  away  from  the  land  that  bred  them, 
they  were  Britons  still,  and  proud  of  their  birthright. 

Then  Grace  Carrington  sang,  and  I  would  have  given 
years  of  my  life  for  Harry's  skill,  which  seemed  a  bond 
between  them  as  she  smiled  gratefully  upon  him.  The 
words  were  simple,  as  became  the  work  of  a  master  who 
loved  the  open,  and  the  music  flowed  with  them  like  the 
ripple  of  a  glancing  water ;  so  a  deeper  silence  settled  upon  all, 
and  I  was  back  in  England  where  a  sparkling  beck  leaped 
out  from  the  furze  of  Lingdale  and  sped  in  flashing  shallows 
under  the  yellow  fern,  while  somewhere  beyond  the  singer's 
voice  I  could  almost  hear  the  alders  talking  to  the  breeze. 
When  it  ceased  the  sound  grew  louder,  but  it  was  only  a 
bitter  blast  that  came  from  the  icy  Pole  moaning  about  the 
homestead  of  Lone  Hollow. 

Raymond  Lyle  stepped  forward  to  express  the  wish  of 
the  rest,  and  Grace  bent  her  fair  head  to  confer  with  Harry, 
who  nodded  gravely,  after  which  she  stood  still,  while  a 
stately  prelude  that  was  curiously  familiar  awoke  old  mem- 
ories. Then  the  words  came,  and  from  the  lips  of  others 
they  might  have  seemed  presumptuous  or  out  of  place,  but 
Grace   Carrington  delivered   them   as  though   they   were   a 


71         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

message  which  must  be  hearkened  to,  and  there  was  an  ex- 
pectant hush  when  the  first  line,  "  A  sower  went  forth  sow- 
ing," rang  clearly  forth.  Later  some  of  those  about  me 
breathed  harder,  and  I  saw  that  big  Raymond's  eyes  were 
hazy,  while  one  hard  brown  hand  was  clenched  upon  his 
knee,  as  in  sinking  cadence  we  heard  again,  "  Within  a  hal- 
lowed acre  He  sows  yet  other  grain." 

Then  after  the  last  note  died  away  and  there  was  only 
the  moaning  of  the  wind,  he  said  simply,  "  Thank  you, 
Miss  Carrington.  I  am  glad  you  sang  it  at  the  Lone 
Hollow  harvest  home." 

"  I  would  never  have  played  it  here  for  any  one  else," 
said  Harry  presently.  "  These  things  are  not  to  be  under- 
taken casually,  but  she  —  well,  I  felt  they  had  to  listen,  and 
I  did  the  best  that  was  in  me.  I  think  it  was  her  clean- 
hearted  simplicity." 

It  was  some  time  afterward  when  I  led  Grace  out  and 
spent  a  blissful  ten  minutes  swinging  through  the  mazes 
of  a  prairie  dance,  before  we  found  a  nook  under  dark 
spruce  branches  from  the  big  coulee,  where  Grace  listened 
with  interest  while  I  told  her  of  our  experiences  in  the 
Dominion.  The  background  of  somber  sprays  enhanced 
her  fair  beauty,  and  her  dress,  which,  though  there  was 
azure  about  it,  was  cf  much  the  same  color,  melted  into 
the  festoon  of  wheat  stalks  below.  The  French-Canadian 
was  playing  another  of  his  weird  waltzes,  and  it  may  have 
been  this  that  reminded  me,  for  now  I  remembered  how  I 
had  seen  her  so  before. 

"  You  will  not  laugh,  I  hope,  when  I  tell  you  that  all 
this  seems  familiar,"  I  said  hesitatingly.  "  Sometimes  in  a 
strange  country  one  comes  upon  a  scene  that  one  knows 
perfectly,  and  we  feel  that,  perhaps  in  dreams,  we  have  seen 
it  all  before.  Why  it  is  so,  I  cannot  tell,  but  once  in  fancy 
I  saw  you  with  a  dress  exactly  like  the  one  you  are  wearing 


HARVEST  HOME  75 

now,  and  the  tall  wheat  behind  you.  Of  course,  it  sounds 
ridiculous,  but,  as  Harry  says,  we  do  not  know  everything, 
and  you  believe  me,  don't  you  ?  " 

Grace's  face  grew  suddenly  grave,  and  there  was  a  height- 
ened color  in  it  as  she  answered :  "  Your  friend  is  a  philoso- 
pher, besides  a  fine  musician,  and  I  quite  believe  you.  I 
have  had  such  experiences  —  but  I  think  these  fancies,  if 
fancies  they  are,  are  best  forgotten.  Still,  tell  me,  did  you 
dream  or  imagine  anything  more?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  still  puzzled  as  a  dim  memory  came  back, 
"  I  saw  your  father  too.  He  seemed  in  trouble,  and  I  was 
concerned  in  it.  This  I  think  was  on  the  prairie,  but  there 
were  tall  pines  too;  while  across  the  whole  dream  picture 
drove  an  alternate  haze  of  dust  and  snow." 

Grace  shivered  as  though  the  relation  troubled  her,  and 
was  silent  until  she  said  with  a  smile: 

"  It  must  be  that  ghostly  music.  Louis  of  Sapin  Rouge 
has  missed  his  vocation.  We  will  talk  no  more  of  it.  You 
once  did  me  a  kindness;  I  wonder  whether  you  would  re- 
peat it." 

"  I  would  go  to  the  world's  end,"  I  commenced  hotly, 
but  stopped  abashed  as  she  checked  me  with  a  gesture, 
though  I  fancied  that  she  did  not  seem  so  displeased  at  my 
boldness  as  she  might  have  been.  Then  she  answered,  smil- 
ing: 

"  I  thought  you  were  too  staid  and  sensible  for  such 
speeches,  and  they  hardly  become  you,  because  of  course 
you  do  not  mean  it.  It  is  nothing  very  serious.  There 
are  signs  of  bad  weather,  and  my  aunt  is  not  strong,  so,  as 
Miss  Lyle  presses  us,  we  shall  stay  here  until  to-morrow 
noon,  and  I  want  you  to  ride  over  and  tell  my  father.  He 
might  grow  uneasy  about  me  —  and  for  some  reason  I  feel 
uneasy  about  him,  while,  as  he  has  been  ailing  lately,  I 
should  not  like  for  him  to  venture  across  the  prairie.    It  seems 


76         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

unfair  to  ask  you,  but  you  are  young  and  strong;  and  I 
should  like  you  to  meet  him.  He  has  his  peculiarities,  so 
our  neighbors  say,  but  he  has  ever  been  a  most  indulgent 
parent  to  me,  and  he  can  be  a  very  firm  friend.  You  will 
do  this,  as  a  favor,  won't  you?  " 

She  gave  me  her  hand  as  she  rose,  and,  mastering  a 
senseless  desire  to  do  more  than  this,  I  bowed  over  it  and 
hurried  away,  feeling  that  hers  was  the  favor  granted,  for 
Ormond  and  many  others  would  gladly  have  ridden  fifty 
miles  through  a  blizzard  to  do  her  bidding.  It  was  for 
this  reason  that  I  made  my  excuses  to  our  host  quietly,  and 
Harry  laughed  as  he  said:  "  I'll  ride  over  with  the  others 
for  you  when  the  dance  is  finished,  but  that  won't  be  until 
nearly  dawn.  The  length  of  these  prairie  festivities  is 
equaled  only  by  their  rarity.  But  beware,  Ralph.  You 
are  a  poor  wheat-grower,  and  too  much  of  those  bright  eyes 
is  not  good  for  you." 

I  was  glad  of  the  skin  coat  and  fur  cap  before  I  even 
reached  the  stables,  and  Jasper's  horse  made  trouble  when 
I  led  him  out.  He  knew  the  signs  of  the  weather  and 
desired  to  stay  there,  because  they  were  not  promising. 
Now,  though  winter  is  almost  Arctic  in  that  region,  the 
snow-fall  is  capricious  and  generally  much  lighter  than  that 
further  east,  though  it  can  come  down  in  earnest  now  and 
then.  Thus,  swept  by  the  wind,  the  grass  was  bare  on  the 
levels,  or  nearly  so,  and  there  was  no  passage  for  steel  run- 
ners, while  our  poor  wagon,  which  would  have  carried  us 
much  more  snugly  swathed  in  wrappings,  had  broken  down, 
as  when  wanted  it  usually  did.  So,  shivering  to  the  back- 
bone, I  swung  myself  into  the  saddle  and  hardened  my  heart 
to  face  the  bitter  ride. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

HELD  UP 

FT  was  very  dark.  The  wind  had  the  coldness  of  death 
in  it,  and  when  the  lights  of  Lone  Hollow  had  faded 
behind  the  obscurity  closed  round  me  like  a  thick  curtain. 
Still,  trusting  to  an  instinctive  sense  of  direction  men  ac- 
quire in  that  land,  I  pushed  on  for  the  big  coulee  —  one  • 
of  those  deep  ravines  that  fissure  the  prairie  and  much  re- 
semble a  railway  cutting.  This  one  was  larger  than  the 
rest,  and  Carrington  Manor  stood  near  one  end  of  it.  The 
horse  evidently  had  little  liking  for  the  journey,  and  did  his 
best  to  shorten  it,  while  I  had  hard  work  to  keep  my  mit- 
tened  hands  from  freezing  as  we  swept  onward  through 
the  night. 

In  places  a  thin  carpet  of  snow-dust  muffled  the  beat  of 
hoofs,  and  there  was  no  sound  but  the  mournful  shrilling 
of  the  wind,  which  emphasized  the  great  emptiness  and  sense 
of  desolation  until  I  almost  felt  that  I  had  ridden  out  of 
our  busy  life  into  primeval  chaos.  We  are  inclined  to  be 
superstitious  on  the  prairie,  which  is  not  greatly  to  be  won- 
dered at.  Fifty  yards  from  the  lighted  homestead  in  winter- 
time there  is  only  an  overpowering  loneliness,  where  Death 
with  his  ally  the  Frost  King  reigns  supreme;  while,  living 
closer  to  nature,  we  learn  that  there  are  even  yet  many 
mysteries,  and  man  plays  but  a  small  part  in  the  business 
of  the  universe.  Still,  for  a  time  the  warmth  within  me 
kept  out  the  frost;  for  Grace  Carrington's  hand  had  rested 
in  mine,  and  I  understood  how  the  thought  of  service  sus- 

77 


78         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

tains  the  Northwest  troopers  in  their  lonely  vigil.  They 
served  the  nation,  but  I  was  serving  Grace. 

Presently  even  this  consolation  grew  fainter,  and  the 
spell  of  the  white  wilderness  oppressed  my  spirits;  for  the 
air  was  filled  with  warning,  and  I  knew  that  heavy  snow 
was  not  far  off.  Sometimes  very  silently  a  dim  shadow 
flitted  past,  and  the  horse  started,  snorting  as  he  quickened 
his  pace  with  the  white  steam  whirling  behind  him.  It 
may  have  been  a  coyote,  or  perhaps  a  timber  wolf;  for 
though  the  antelope  had  departed  south,  the  settlers  said 
that  both  from  the  bush  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  beyond 
the  Cypress  hills  the  lean  and  grizzled  beasts  had  come 
down  into  the  prairie.  Nevertheless,  their  noiseless  passage 
harmonized  with  the  surroundings;  and  at  last  I  grew 
thankful  for  a  slight  drowsiness  which  blunted  the  imagina- 
tion. But  there  were  other  riders  out  on  the  waste  that 
night,  and,  with  one  hand  on  the  slung  rifle,  I  reined  in 
the  horse  as  three  white-sprinkled  figures  came  up  at  a 
gallop.  Generally,  as  far  as  anything  human  is  concerned, 
the  prairie  is  as  safe  at  midnight,  if  not  safer,  than  a  street 
in  London  town;  but  because  game  is  plentiful  there  is 
generally  a  gun  in  the  wagon,  and  when  the  settlers  ride 
out  they  often  carry  a  rifle  at  their  back. 

"Halt!"  cried  a  voice  I  recognized;  and  there  was  a 
jingle  of  steel  as  two  skin-wrapped  troopers  of  the  North- 
west Police  wheeled  their  horses  on  either  side  of  me,  while 
another,  who  spoke  with  authority,  grasped  my  bridle. 
Even  in  that  darkness  I  could  see  the  ready  carbines,  and, 
knowing  wThat  manner  of  men  these  riders  were,  I  was  glad 
I  could  meet  them  peaceably. 

"  Your  name  and  business,"  said  the  voice  of  Sergeant 
Macfarlane;  and  a  disappointed  laugh  followed  my  reply 
as  that  worthy  added,  "  Then  if  ye  have  no'  been  raiding 
Coombs  lately  ye  can  pass,   friend.     Seen  no  one  on  the 


HELD  UP  79 

prairie?  I'm  sorry.  Four  cattle-lifting  rustlers  held  up 
Clearwater  Creek,  and  we're  going  south  for  the  next  post 
to  head  them  off  from  the  boundary.  Well,  time  is  pre- 
cious. A  fair  journey  til  ye.  It's  a  very  bitter  night,  and 
snowing  beyond." 

With  a  faint  clatter  they  vanished  again;  and  I  did  not 
envy  them  their  long  ride  to  the  next  post,  with  a  blizzard 
brewing.  When  his  work  is  over  or  the  snow  comes  down 
the  settler  may  sleep  snugly  and  sound,  or  lounge  in  tran- 
quil contentment  beside  the  twinkling  stove,  while,  as  the 
price  of  his  security,  the  Northwest  Police,  snatching  some- 
times a  few  hours'  rest  under  the  gray  cloud  in  a  trench 
of  snow,  and  sometimes  riding  a  grim  race  with  death, 
keep  wratch  and  ward  over  the  vast  territories.  We  do  not 
rear  desperadoes  on  the  prairie,  though  some  few  are  sent 
to  us.  Neither  do  they  take  root  and  flourish  among  us, 
because  ours  is  a  hard  country  and  there  are  not  many 
men  in  it  worth  robbing.  However,  there  had  been  trouble 
over  the  border  when  the  rich  Cattle  Barons  strove  to 
crowd  out  the  poor  man,  and  the  hardest  hit  among  the 
latter,  with  murderous  Winchesters,  lay  in  wait  for  the  op- 
pressor. I  do  not  know  the  wrongs  and  rights  of  the  whole 
question;  neither  were  details  of  every  skirmish  published 
by  the  American  press;  but  cruel  things  were  done  by  each 
side,  and  it  took  a  strong  force  of  United  States  cavalry 
to  restore  order.  Then  broken  men  who  had  lost  their 
livelihood,  and  some  with  a  price  upon  their  heads,  made 
their  name  a  terror  on  both  sides  of  the  frontier  and  kept 
the  troopers  busy. 

So  I  was  glad  that  those  particular  outlaws  had  journeyed 
south,  and  was  even  more  pleased  when  I  reached  the 
coulee,  for  the  cold  was  increasing  and  the  ride  had  grown 
inexpressibly  dreary.  It  was  warmer  down  in  the  hollow 
among  the  trees,  but  so  black  that  it  was  the  horse  rather 


80         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

than  I  that  avoided  them,  while  now  and  then  a  branch 
lashed  my  forehead  like  a  whip.  There  were  cypress  among 
them  resembling  solid  masses  of  gloom,  and  the  wind  howled 
weirdly;  but  at  last  I  blundered  up  the  winding  trail  into 
sight  of  Carrington  Manor.  The  big  log-and-frame-built 
house  was  dark  and  silent,  and  though  I  knew  that  at  least 
the  majority  of  its  inhabitants  were  at  Lone  Hollow  the 
sight  depressed  me.  Then,  just  as  we  drew  clear  of  the 
trees,  I  checked  the  horse,  for,  silhouetted  blackly  against 
the  sky,  a  single  mounted  figure  kept  watch  over  it.  Per- 
haps it  was  instinctive  caution,  or  it  may  have  been  that 
Grace's  uneasiness  had  infected  me,  but  I  led  Jasper's  horse 
back  into  the  coulee  and  hitched  him  to  a  tree,  then,  un- 
slinging  the  rifle,  stood  still  shivering  as  I  watched  the  figure. 

There  was  something  sinister  about  it,  and  it  might  have 
been  frozen  stiff  but  for  a  faint  rattle  as  the  horse  moved  its 
head,  while  once  I  caught  a  rigid  line  across  the  saddle 
which  suspiciously  resembled  a  rifle.  Then,  recalling  what 
Sergeant  Macfarlane  had  said,  I  knew  that  while  the  police 
rode  hot-foot  toward  the  boundary  the  rustlers  had  doubled 
on  their  tracks  to  hold  up  Carrington  Manor.  It  also 
struck  me  that  as  the  main  trail  ran  straight  across  the 
prairie  the  watcher  knew  nothing  about  the  bridle-path 
through  the  coulee.  In  any  case,  it  was  plainly  my  duty 
to  reach  the  homestead  and  render  assistance  if  I  could. 

I  made  sure  that  the  Winchester  cylinder  was  filled  with 
cartridges  by  pressing  back  the  slide,  and  then  I  crept  cau- 
tiously, with  the  dark  trees  for  a  background,  toward  the 
building,  observing  as  I  did  so  that  the  latter  rendered 
the  scout  invisible  to  any  one  approaching  by  the  direct  trail. 
Then,  stooping  low,  I  crossed  the  bare  space  which  divided 
me  from  the  house,  trusting  that  a  humming  bullet  might 
not  overtake  me,  and  reached  it  safely  with  a  heart  that 
beat  at  twice  its  usual  speed.     It  is  one  thing  to  face  danger 


HELD  UP  81 

in  hot  blood,  but  it  is  quite  another  and  much  more  un- 
pleasant matter  to  slink  through  the  darkness  wondering 
whether  a  foe  one  cannot  see  is  following  each  movement 
with  a  rifle.  Neither  is  there  any  chance  of  hitting  back  in 
such  cases;  for  it  is  my  opinion,  from  watching  a  stricken 
deer,  that  at  short  ranges  the  blow  comes  almost  simul- 
taneously as  the  optic  nerve  records  the  flash  and  before  the 
ear  has  caught  the  explosion.  All  this  I  considered  as  I 
flattened  myself  against  the  wall  —  for  I  was  by  no  means 
braver  than  my  fellows  —  and  presently,  yard  by  yard, 
wormed  myself  along  it  until  I  passed  a  corner. 

There  a  light  shone  out  across  the  snow  from  a  window, 
and  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  admit  that  I  crawled  toward 
it  on  hands  and  knees,  for  angry  voices  now  reached  me, 
and  I  knew  that  if  I  raised  myself  and  the  watcher  had 
changed  his  position  he  could  see  me.  I  reached  the  sill 
at  last  with  the  rifle  clenched  in  one  mittened  hand;  and 
while  I  debated  on  my  next  procedure  I  heard  Colonel  Car- 
rington  say  slowly  and  fiercely: 

"  I  will  neither  sign  nor  tell  you!  " 

Then,  reflecting  that  while  one  can  always  see  into  a 
lighted  room  those  inside  it  cannot  see  out,  I  determined  to 
risk  the  scout's  vigilance,  and  raised  my  head  cautiously,  for 
it  was  plain  that  something  quite  unusual  went  on  inside. 
I  looked  into  a  kind  of  ante-room  on  one  side  of  the  en- 
trance, which  the  ruler  of  Carrington  used  as  an  office  or 
study.  He  sat  in  a  basket  chair  with  a  frown  on  his  face 
and  disdain  in  his  eyes,  while  a  burly  man  muffled  in  wrap- 
pings leaned  on  the  table  opposite  him,  holding  a  rifle,  the 
muzzle  of  which  was  turned  toward  the  Colonel's  breast. 
But  there  was  no  sign  of  fear  about  him,  and  I  had  heard 
the  settlers  say  that  nothing  living  could  make  Colonel  Car- 
rington flinch.  An  open  check-book  and  some  note-paper 
lay   beside   an    inkstand   on    the   table,    and   another   armed 


82         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ruffian  stood  near  the  stove.  The  door  of  the  hall  close 
by  stood  partly  open,  and  their  voices  were  audible  through 
it. 

"  I  guess  it's  quite  simple,  but  you  make  us  tired,,,  the 
latter  said.  "  You'll  tell  us  where  the  chest  is,  and  just  fill 
in  that  check,  with  a  letter  vouching  for  the  bearer  and 
explaining  why  you  want  so  much  in  a  hurry.  Then, 
as  I  said  before,  you'll  ride  south  with  us  a  day  or  two  while 
we  arrange  for  cashing  it,  after  which  we'll  let  you  go 
safely,  on  our  honor." 

Colonel  Carrington  laughed  sardonically,  and  I  could 
fancy  his  thin  lips  curling  under  the  gray  mustache  before 
he  answered: 

"  I  hardly  consider  that  a  sufficient  guarantee.  Again, 
I  will  neither  sign  nor  tell  you  where  the  chest  is.  Con- 
fusion to  you !  " 

"  You're  a  hard  man,"  said  the  other  almost  admiringly. 
"If  we'd  had  you  to  head  us  we'd  have  bluffed  off  Uncle 
Sam's  troopers  at  the  Cypress  range.  Still,  we've  no  time 
for  fooling,  and  if  Jim  finds  the  chest  without  you  we'll 
risk  putting  up  the  price  a  thousand  dollars  or  so.  Jim  is 
tolerably  handy  at  finding  things.  See  here,  you  have  got 
to  sign  it,  and  sign  it  now,  before  this  Winchester  makes 
a  mess  of  you !  " 

The  Colonel  glanced  at  the  rifle  coolly,  as  he  answered : 
"  I  fail  to  see  what  good  that  would  do.  My  handwriting 
is  peculiar;  you  couldn't  imitate  it,  while  you  would  cer- 
tainly be  hanged  when  the  troopers  laid  hands  on  you." 

This  was  incontrovertible  logic,  and  the  two  outlaws 
drawing  apart  conferred  with  each  other  softly,  while  I 
debated  what  I  should  do.  The  casement  was  a  double 
one,  but  I  felt  sure  I  could  drive  a  bullet  through  one  of 
them.  Still,  even  in  the  circumstances  it  looked  too  much 
like    murder,    and    to    this    day  I    have    never    taken    the 


HELD  UP  8S 

life  of  a  man,  though  occasionally  forced  into  handling  one 
roughly.  Before  any  decision  could  be  arrived  at  a  tramp 
of  feet  in  the  hall  showed  that  somebody  approached  under 
a  burden. 

"  Keep  the  muzzle  on  him,"  said  one.  u  I  guess  Jim  has 
found  the  coffer,  and  we'll  make  sure  of  that.  I'll  help 
him  to  cinch  it  on  the  horse  if  we  can't  open  it.  Colonel, 
we'll  have  to  fine  you  the  further  thousand  dollars." 

I  realized  it  was  high  time  for  me  to  vacate  that  position 
unless  I  wished  the  couple  to  discover  me,  and  so  I  slipped 
back  into  the  shadow,  just  in  time,  as  they  strode  out  carry- 
ing something.  I  watched  them  vanish  into  the  blackness, 
heard  the  scout  answer  their  hail,  and  then  I  crawled  back 
swiftly  —  toward  the  door  this  time.  A  glance  through 
the  window  in  passing  showed  me  that  the  remaining  out- 
law stood  with  his  back  toward  the  entrance,  and  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  Colonel.  The  door  was  half  closed  when  I 
reached  it,  and  for  a  moment  I  stood  there  shortening  my 
grip  on  the  rifle  and  gathering  my  breath;  then  with  a 
bound  I  drove  it  inward,  and  whirled  aloft  the  butt  of  the 
Winchester. 

The  outlaw  twisted  round  on  his  heels;  but  he  moved 
an  instant  too  late,  for  even  as  his  fingers  tightened  on  the 
trigger  the  steel  heel-plate  descended  in  the  center  of  his 
face,  and  I  felt  something  crunch  in  under  it.  He  staggered 
sideways,  there  was  a  crash  as  the  rifle  exploded  harmlessly, 
and  before  he  could  recover  I  had  him  by  the  neck  and 
hurled  him  half-choked  through  the  door.  I  had  the  sense 
to  slam  it  and  slip  the  bolt  home ;  then,  while  I  stood  pant- 
ing, the  Colonel  prepared  to  improve  our  position. 

"  Close  those  shutters  and  screw  down  the  wing-nut 
hard,"  he  said,  hanging  the  lamp  close  beside  the  door. 
"  Now,  stand  here  in  the  shadow.  I  am  much  obliged  to 
you,  but  you  should  have  made  certain  of  that  fellow." 


84        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

It  was  only  natural  that  he  should  feel  resentment;  but 
there  was  a  cold  vindictiveness  in  his  tone  which  made  me 
realize  that  it  was  as  well  for  the  outlaw  that  I  had  not  left 
him  in  the  room.     Then  he  spoke  again: 

"  We  have  two  good  weapons ;  that  rascaTs  cylinder  is 
charged  —  I  saw  him  fill  it  out  of  my  own  bandolier,  and 
there  is  an  armory  in  the  other  room.  They  took  me  by 
surprise  —  in  Western  parlance,  got  the  drop  on  me.  Of 
course  they'll  come  back,  but  all  the  doors  and  windows 
are  fast,  and  we  could  hear  them  breaking  in,  while  in  this 
kind  of  work  the  risk  is  with  the  aggressor." 

A  pounding  on  the  door  cut  him  short,  and  a  hoarse, 
partly  muffled  voice  reached  us: 

"  We're  about  sick  of  fooling,  and  mean  solid  business 
now,"  it  said.  "  Open,  and  be  quick  about  it,  before  we 
smash  that  door  down  and  try  moral  suasion  by  roasting 
both  of  you." 

"  You  should  have  stayed  when  you  were  in,"  was  the 
ironical  answer.  "  No  doubt  you  have  observed  the  light 
under  the  door.  Well,  the  first  man  across  the  threshold 
will  get  a  bullet  through  him  before  he  even  sees  us. 
Haven't  you  realized  yet  that  this  undertaking  is  too  big 
for  you?  " 

"  Curse  him ;  he's  busted  my  best  teeth  in.  Hunt  round 
and  find  something  for  a  battering  ram,"  cried  another 
voice,  but  though  the  assailants  had  possibly  not  caught  all 
the  answer,  they  evidently  understood  the  strength  of  our 
position,  for  we  heard  them  moving  away. 

"  Gone  to  open  the  chest  in  the  stables ;  they  won't  find 
much  in  it,"  said  Colonel  Carrington.  "  They  will  try  a 
fresh  move  next  time.  Mr.  Lorimer,  of  Fairmead,  are  you 
not?     I  wish  to  express  my  obligations  again." 

He  took  it  very  coolly,  as  it  appeared  he  took  everything, 
and  smiled  curiously  as,  glancing  at  his  watch,  he  said  half- 


HELD  UP  85 

aloud:  "Well,  there  are  worse  things  than  a  clean  swift 
ending,  and  there  was  a  time  when  I  should  not  have 
stepped  aside  to  let  death  pass.  But  I  apologize,  Mr.  Lori- 
mer,  for  inflicting  such  talk  on  you.  Hope  we  shall  be 
friends  if  we  come  out  of  this  safely.  The  check?  —  yes, 
we'll  put  it  away.  It  might  have  saved  trouble  to  sign  it, 
but  you  see  it  was  her  mother's  money,  and  I  only  hold  it 
in  trust  for  my  daughter.  Neither  are  we  as  rich  as  some 
suppose  us  to  be." 

His  grim  face  relaxed,  and  his  voice  sounded  different 
when  he  spoke  of  Grace,  while  a  few  moments  passed  be- 
fore he  added: 

"  It  cannot  be  far  from  dawn,  and  there's  not  a  soul  in 
Carrington  except  you  and  myself.  Grace  took  all  my 
people  with  her  to  help  at  Lone  Hollow.  So,  unless  you 
are  inclined  to  stalk  them,  which  I  should  hardly  suggestr 
as  they  might  be  too  clever  for  you,  we  must  await  our 
friends'  arrival  and  make  the  best  of  it." 

I  had  no  inclination  whatever  to  try  the  stalking.  To 
take  a  kneeling  shot  at  an  unsuspecting  man  seemed  in  any 
circumstances  almost  a  crime;  so  we  sat  each  with  a  rifle 
laid  across  his  knees,  and  for  the  first  time  in  two  years  I 
tasted  excellent  tobacco.  But  the  vigil  grew  trying.  The 
house  seemed  filled  with  whispers  and  mysterious  noises. 
My  throat  grew  dry,  and  the  Colonel  laughed  when  once  I 
moved  sharply  as  a  rat  scurried  behind  the  wainscot* 
Neither  of  us  felt  inclined  to  talk,  and  our  eyes  were  fixed 
steadfastly  upon  the  door,  until  at  last  the  lamp  seemed 
to  rise  and  fall  with  each  respiration.  Then  the  Colonel 
approached  the  window  as  though  listening,  after  glancing 
once  more  at  his  watch. 

"It  must  be  daybreak,  and  I  hear  something,"  he  said. 
"  There  is  probably  one  of  them  watching,  but  we  must 
chance  it,"  and  he  moved  softly  toward  the  door.     When 


86         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

we  stood  outside  the  cold  of  the  morning  went  through 
me  like  a  knife.  Still  a  rapid  beat  of  horse  hoofs  rose  out  of 
the  big  coulee,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  outlaws  had 
heard  them,  for  we  saw  two  men  busy  with  the  horses  at 
the  stable  door,  while  two  more  disappeared  behind  the  bank 
of  sods  that  walled  off  the  vegetable  garden.  What  their 
purpose  was,  unless  they  meant  to  check  any  accession  to 
our  strength  while  their  comrades  escaped  with  the  coffer, 
was  not  apparent.  It  was  blowing  strongly  now,  and  the 
air  was  thick  with  falling  snow,  but  I  made  out  two  riders 
who  resembled  Harry  and  Ormond  coming  toward  us  at  a 
gallop,  with  another  horseman  some  distance  behind.  Then 
a  hoarse  shout  reached  us  — "  Stop  right  there,  and  wheel 
your  horses  before  we  plug  you!  " 

I  could  not  see  into  the  hollow  beneath  the  wall  because 
it  was  some  distance  off  and  the  snow  whirled  about  it,  but 
I  could  imagine  the  Winchester  barrel  resting  on  the  sods 
while  a  steady  eye  stared  through  the  sights,  and  knew  that 
neither  Ormond  nor  Harry  carried  weapons.  So  I  started 
at  a  flounder  toward  them,  roaring  as  I  went: 

"Go  back  —  for  your  life,  go  back!" 

They  evidently  did  not  hear  me,  though  we  were  after- 
wards to  hear  the  reason  for  an  apparent  act  of  madness. 
Harry  was  always  reckless,  and  Ormond  coolly  brave,  while 
as  I  ran  I  saw  the  two  horses  flying  at  the  wall.  A  streak 
of  red  flame  blazed  out  low  down  in  the  snow,  a  mounted 
man  passed  me  leading  two  horses,  and  I  neither  knew  nor 
cared  whether  he  noticed  me,  for  I  felt  suddenly  dizzy, 
wondering  whether  the  bullet  had  gone  home.  Neither  did 
I  hear  any  report  at  all,  for  my  whole  attention  was  con- 
centrated on  the  black  shapes  of  the  riders  breast  high 
beyond  the  wall.  Then  one  beast  rose  into  the  air,  and  I 
saw  Ormond  swing  a  riding  crop  round  backward  as  though 
for  the  sword  cut  from  behind  the  shoulder.     A  soft  thud 


HELD  UP  87 

followed,  Harry's  horse  cleared  the  sods  like  a  bird,  and  I 
blazed  off  my  rifle  at  a  venture  toward  the  hollow  as  they 
thundered  neck  and  neck  past  me.  It  was  clear  that  empty- 
handed  they  had  ridden  either  over  or  through  the  foe. 

After  that  events  followed  too  rapidly  to  leave  a  clear 
impression.  A  pair  of  half-seen  figures  which  appeared  at 
the  other  end  of  the  hollow  scrambled  for  the  empty  sad- 
dles, and  one  seemed  to  help  his  companion.  Then  they 
vanished  into  the  whirling  haze,  and  Colonel  Carrington's 
Winchester  rapped  as  he  emptied  the  magazine  at  the  flying 
foe,  while  by  the  time  the  new  arrivals  had  mastered  their 
excited  beasts  there  was  only  a  narrow  circle  of  prairie  shut 
in  by  blinding  snow. 

"  Very  glad  to  find  you  safe,  sir,"  said  Ormond.  "  We 
met  the  Blackfoot  who  peddles  moccasins,  and  he  told  us 
he  had  seen  four  men  he  thought  were  Stevens'  gang  head- 
ing for  Carrington,  so  we  pushed  on  as  fast  as  we  could. 
Perhaps  if  we  three  went  on  with  rifles  we  might  overtake 
them." 

Harry  looked  eager,  and  I  was  willing,  but  Colonel  Car- 
rington was  wisest: 

"  You  have  done  gallantly,"  he  said,  "but  it  would  only 
be  throwing  lives  away.  The  snow  is  coming  in  earnest, 
and  it  strikes  me  they  have  gone  to  their  account  unless  they 
find  shelter  in  a  coulee." 

Then  they  dismounted,  and  a  hired  man,  who  had  lagged 
behind  through  indifferent  horseflesh  and  no  fault  of  his 
own,  was  despatched  to  prepare  breakfast,  and  it  wras  a 
merry  party  that  assembled  round  the  table.  Even  the 
ruler  of  Carrington's  grim  face  relaxed. 

"  I  am  glad  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  both  of  you," 
he  said.  "  You  will  make  the  best  of  Carrington  I  hope 
for  a  day  or  two." 

We  were  nothing  loth,  for   twenty  miles   of  deepening 


88         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

snow  lay  between  us  and  our  homestead,  where  we  had 
little  to  do,  while  to  complete  my  satisfaction  Grace  and  her 
train  arrived  in  the  Lone  Hollow  sleigh  early  the  next  morn- 
ing, and  on  hearing  the  story  her  eyes  glistened  as  she  thanked 
me.  "  I  am  so  glad  I  sent  you/'  she  said,  "  and  I  feel  I 
owe  my  father's  safety,  perhaps  his  life,  to  you.  It  is  a 
debt  I  can  never  repay." 

It  was  late  that  afternoon  when  another  sleigh  drew 
up.  before  the  Carrington  gate,  and  three  white-sheeted 
troopers  lifted  a  heavy  burden  out  of  it.  The  thing,  which 
seemed  a  shapeless  heap  of  snow  and  wrappings,  hung  limply 
between  them  as  they  carried  it  into  the  hall,  while  it  was 
Sergeant  Angus  Macfarlane  who  explained  their  errand. 

"  Lay  him  down  there  gently,  boys,"  he  said.  "No, 
stand  back,  Miss  Carrington,  these  kind  o'  sights  are  no  for 
you.  We  found  him  in  a  coulee  after  yon  Blackfoot  peddler 
had  told  us  Stevens  had  fooled  us,  and  ye'll  mind  it's  no 
that  easy  to  fool  the  Northwest  Police.  He's  one  o'  the 
gang,  but  the  poor  soul's  got  several  ribs  broken,  an'  after 
lying  out  through  the  blizzard  I'm  thinking  he's  near  his 
end.  It's  a  long  ride  to  the  outpost,  forbye  we  have  no 
comforts.  Maybe  ye'll  take  him  —  ay,  I  ken  he's  a  robber, 
but  ye  cannot  leave  him  to  perish  in  the  snow." 

He  flung  back  the  wrappings,  and  before  I  could  stop  her 
Grace  bent  down  over  the  drawn  white  face  with  the  red 
froth  on  the  lips,  while  Ormond  said  quietly: 

"  Very  bad,  poor  devil !  I  fancied  Robin's  hoofs  struck 
something  that  yielded  when  he  made  a  landing.  You  will 
take  him  in  if  it's  only  to  oblige  me,  sir." 

Grace  stood  upright  with  tender  compassion  shining  in 
her  wet  eyes  as  she  fixed  them  on  the  old  man. 

"I  am  a  woman  now,  father,"  she  said,  "  and  I  should 
like  to  help  to  cure  him  if  it  can  be  done.  We  shall 
do     everything     possible     for     him,     anyway.     Bring     him 


HELD  UP  89 

forward,  Sergeant  Angus.  Geoffrey,  you  know  something 
of  surgery." 

"  I  don't  make  war  on  dying  men.  You  will  do  what- 
ever pleases  you,  Grace,"  the  ruler  of  Carrington  answered, 
indifferently. 

They  carried  their  burden  into  another  room,  and  I 
waited  beside  the  stove,  with  two  faces  stamped  on  my 
memory.  The  one  was  that  of  the  wounded  man  with  its 
contraction  of  pain  and  glassy  stare,  and  the  other  the  coun- 
tenance of  Grace  Carrington  transfigured  for  a  moment  by 
a  great  pity  that  added  to  its  loveliness.  Still,  the  coming 
of  this  unexpected  guest  cast  a  gloom  upon  us,  and  we  sel- 
dom saw  Grace,  while  Ormond,  who  seemed  to  know  a 
little  of  everything,  once  said  on  passing:  "  I  have  fixed 
him  up  as  well  as  I  could,  but  I  think  a  broken  rib  has 
pierced  his  lung,  and  he's  sinking  rapidly.  However,  Miss 
Carrington  is  doing  her  best,  and  he  could  not  have  a  more 
efficient  nurse." 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when,  on  tapping  at  the 
door  in  search  of  tidings,  Ormond  called  me  in.  The  day- 
light was  fading,  but  I  could  see  the  limp,  suffering  shape 
on  the  bed,  and  Grace  sitting  near  the  window,  leaning 
forward  as  though  listening. 

"  Light-headed  at  times !  "  said  Ormond ;  "  but  he  was 
asking  for  you.  Do  you  feel  any  easier  now?  Here's  an- 
other inquirer  anxious  to  hear  good  news  of  you." 

The  man  turned  his  drawn  face  toward  me,  and  tried 
to  smile  as  he  said :  "  I  guess  you're  very  good.  Hope 
you  don't  bear  malice.  You  oughtn't  to  anyhow  —  nearly 
broke  my  neck  when  you  fired  me  through  the  doorway. 
All  in  the  way  of  business,  and  I'm  corralled  now." 

I  bent  my  head  with  a  friendly  gesture,  for  even  I  could 
read  death  in  his  face,  and  the  outlaw,  glancing  toward 
Grace,  added: 


90         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  If  I'd  known  you,  Missy,  we'd  never  have  held  up  this 
homestead.  White  people  all  through,  and  you're  a  prairie 
daisy.  What  made  me  do  it?  Well,  I  guess  that's  a  long 
story,  and  some  of  it  might  scare  you.  A  big  man  froze  me 
off  my  land,  and  some  one  rebranded  my  few  head  of  stock. 
Law!  we  don't  count  much  on  that;  it's  often  the  biggest 
rascals  corral  the  offices,  and  we  just  laid  for  them  with 
the  rifle.  They  were  too  many  for  us  —  and  this  is  the 
end  of  it." 

Grace  moved  toward  him  whispering  something  I  could 
not  catch,  but  the  man  smiled  feebly,  and  I  heard  the  grim 
answer : 

"  No ;  I  guess  it's  rather  too  late  for  that.  I  lived  my 
own  way,  and  I  can  die  that  way  too.  Don't  back  down  on 
one's  partners;  kind  of  mean,  isn't  it?  And  if  it's  true  what 
you're  saying  I'll  just  accept  my  sentence.  Going  out  be- 
fore the  morning;  but  I  sent  two  of  the  men  who  robbed  me 
to  perdition  first." 

Ormond  raised  his  hand  for  silence,  and  again  I  could 
hear  the  shrilling  of  the  bitter  wind  that  was  never  still. 
Then  he  said  softly :  "  You  are  only  exciting  him,  and  had 
better  go,"  and  with  a  last  glance  at  Grace's  slender  figure 
stooping  beside  the  bed  I  went  out  softly. 

It  was  nearly  midnight  and  a  cold  creepiness  pervaded 
everything  when  he  joined  the  rest  of  us  round  the  stove. 

"  Gone !  "  he  said  simply.  "  Just  clenched  his  hand  and 
died.  There  was  some  fine  material  wasted  in  that  man. 
Well,  I  think  he  was  wronged  somehow,  and  I'm  sorry  for 
him." 

We  turned  away  in  silence,  for  a  shadow  rested  upon 
Carrington,  while  the  outlaw  lay  in  state  in  the  homestead 
he  had  helped  to  rob,  until  the  Northwest  Police  bore  what 
was  left  of  him  away.  But  before  that  time  we  rode  back 
to  Fairmead. 


CHAPTER  IX 

A  RECKONING 

TT  was  some  time  after  the  holding  up  of  Carrington 
Manor  before  I  was  able,  with  Jasper's  assistance,  to 
fulfill  my  promise  to  Minnie  Fletcher.  Jasper  knew  every- 
body within  fifty  miles  up  and  down  the  C.  P.  R.  Line,  and 
at  least  as  far  across  the  prairie,  while  they  all  had  a  good 
word  for  him.  So  when  he  heard  the  story  he  drove  us 
over  to  Clearwater,  where  an  elevator  had  been  built  beside 
the  track,  only  to  find  that  the  agent  in  charge  of  it  had 
already  a  sufficient  staff.  He,  however,  informed  us  that 
the  manager  of  a  new  creamery  wanted  a  handy  man  to 
drive  round  collecting  milk  from  the  scattered  homesteads 
who  could  also  help  at  the  accounts  and  clerking.  Such  a 
combination  might  not  have  been  usual  in  England,  but  in 
the  Western  Dominion  one  may  find  University  graduates 
digging  trenches  and  unfortunate  barristers  glad  to  earn  a 
few  dollars  as  railroad  hands. 

"  I  guess  we'll  fix  him  up  in  that  creamery,"  said  Jasper. 
"  The  man  who  runs  it  was  raised  not  far  from  the  old 
folks'  place  in  Ontario,"  and  we  started  forthwith  on  an 
apparently  endless  ride  across  the  frozen  prairie.  Some  of 
our  horses  are  not  much  to  look  at,  and  others  are  hard  to 
drive,  but  the  way  they  can  haul  the  light  wagons  or  even 
the  humble  ground  sleigh  along  league  after  league  would 
surprise  those  not  used  to  them.  We  spent  one  night  with 
a  Highland  crofter  in  a  dwelling  that  resembled  a  burrow, 
for  most  of  it  was  underground,  but  the  rammed  earth 
walls  kept  out  the  cold  and  the  interior  was  both  warm  and 

91 


92         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

clean.  We  spent  another  in  somewhat  grim  conviviality  at 
the  creamery,  for  the  men  whose  fathers  hewed  sites  for 
what  are  now  thriving  towns  out  of  the  bush  of  Ontario  are 
rather  hard  and  staunch  than  sprightly. 

Still,  the  manager  did  his  best  for  us,  and  said  on  parting, 
"  Send  him  right  along.  I'll  give  any  friend  of  yours  a 
show  if  Jasper  will  vouch  for  him.  Pay's  no  great  thing 
as  yet,  but  he  can  live  on  it,  and  if  we  flourish  he'll  sail 
ahead  with  us." 

So  we  brought  Thomas  Fletcher  out  from  Winnipeg 
by  joint  subscription,  and  it  cost  us  rather  more  than  we 
cared  about,  for  he  came  second  class,  while  at  that  time 
Harry  and  I  would  have  traveled  "  Colonist,"  or  on  oppor- 
tunity would  have  earned  our  passage  by  tending  stock.  If 
we  could  spare  a  dollar  in  those  days  we  wanted  it  for  our 
land.  The  old  jauntiness  had  gone  out  of  Fletcher.  He 
looked  worn  and  thinner,  with,  I  fancied,  signs  of  indulgence 
in  alcohol,  but  he  professed  his  willingness  to  work  hard  at 
anything  that  would  keep  a  roof  over  Minnie's  head.  We 
drove  him  across  to  the  creamery,  and  the  manager  seemed 
disappointed  when  he  saw  him,  while  on  the  journey  home 
Jasper  said : 

"  I've  been  sizing  up  that  young  man.  Strikes  me  he's 
too  much  like  the  trash  you  British  are  over-fond  of  dump- 
ing on  to  us.  Why  can't  your  people  understand  that  if  a 
man's  a  dead  failure  over  there  we  don't  want  him?  Dare 
say  he's  honest,  but  he's  got  no  sand.  Let  that  fellow  sit 
up  and  talk  over  a  glass  of  rye  whiskey  and  a  bad  cigar  and 
he's  right  there;  set  him  wrestling  with  a  tough  job  and 
he'll  double  up." 

Jasper  posed  as  a  judge  of  character,  and  I  felt  inclined 
to  agree  with  him.  Fletcher  had  not  the  appearance  of  a 
vicious  or  dishonest  man,  but  I  fancied  under  pressure  of 
circumstances  he  might  become  one. 


A  RECKONING  93 

We  built  a  new  stable  and  barn  that  winter,  hauling 
suitable  logs  —  and  they  were  very  hard  to  find  —  ten  miles 
across  the  prairie,  while  Harry  nearly  lost  his  hands  by 
frost-bite  bringing  in  one  load.  Nevertheless,  and  there  is 
leisure  in  that  season,  we  drove  over  now  and  then  to 
Fletcher's  humble  dwelling  beside  the  creamery,  and  were 
both  embarrassed  the  first  time  Minnie  thanked  us  with 
tears  in  her  eyes.  Already  she  was  recovering  her  good 
looks  and  spirits,  but  as  Fletcher's  pay  would  be  scanty 
until  spring  the  odd  bags  of  potatoes  and  flour  we  brought 
them  were  evidently  acceptable.  We  had  received  help 
freely  when  we  needed  it,  and  it  seemed  only  fitting  that 
now  we  should  help  others  in  turn ;  so  we  did  what  little  we 
could,  and,  as  transpired  later,  it  brought  trouble  on  us. 
Also  we  managed  to  pay  a  few  visits  to  other  neighbors  who 
lived  at  any  distance  within  thirty  miles,  including  a  few 
farms  of  the  Carrington  group,  where,  perhaps  especially 
for  Harry's  sake,  they  made  us  welcome,  and  we  went  twice 
to  Carrington  Manor.  The  second  visit  was  a  memorable 
one. 

It  was  a  still,  starlit  night  with  an  intense  frost  and  a 
few  pale  green  streamers  shimmering  in  the  north,  but  the 
big  main  room  of  the  Manor  with  its  open  fireplace  and 
central  stove  was  very  warm  and  snug.  Our  team  was 
safely  stabled,  for  owing  to  the  distance  we  could  not  well 
return  that  night,  and  since  the  affair  with  the  cattle  thieves 
Colonel  Carrington  had  so  far  as  in  him  lay  been  cordial. 
He  sat  beside  the  glowing  birch  logs,  silent  and  stern  of 
aspect  as  usual,  with  a  big  shaggy  hound  which  I  had  seen 
roll  over  a  coyote  with  a  broken  spine  curled  up  against  his 
knee,  while  the  firelight  flickered  redly  across  his  lean, 
bronzed  face.  Opposite  sat  his  sister,  who  partly  resembled 
him,  though  in  her  case  the  Carrington  dignity  was  softened 
by  a  winning  sympathy.     She  was  an  old  maid  of  a  fine  but 


94*         LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

perhaps  not  common  type,  white-haired  and  stately,  and  in 
all  things  gracious. 

Harry,  who  was  a  favorite  of  hers,  knelt  with  one  knee 
on  a  wolf-skin  rug,  turning  over  a  collection  of  photographs 
on  a  low  table  that  she  might  see,  and  she  smiled  at  some 
of  his  comments.  Ormond  leaned  against  the  wall  behind 
them  interposing  whimsical  sallies,  and  casting  occasional 
glances  toward  Grace  and  myself.  Resigning  his  commis- 
sion, he  had  lately,  we  understood,  purchased  land  near  the 
Manor.  One  or  two  other  of  the  Colonel's  subjects  also 
were  present.  Being  lighted  with  shaded  lamps  that  shed 
their  soft  radiance  only  where  it  was  wanted,  portions  of 
the  long  room  remained  in  shadow,  so  Grace  and  I,  sitting 
near  one  window,  could  look  out  between  the  looped-back 
curtains  across  the  prairie.  High  over  the  sweep  of  dimly 
glimmering  snow  hung  a  vault  of  fathomless  indigo.  It  was 
not  such  a  sky  as  one  sees  in  England,  but  rather  a  clear 
transparency  where  the  stars,  ranged  one  behind  the  other, 
led  the  gaze  back  and  lost  it  in  infinity,  while  at  intervals  a 
steely  scintillation  flickered  up  from  horizon  to  zenith  and 
then  back  again.  Feathery  frost-flowers  on  the  window 
framed  the  picture  like  a  screen  of  delicate  embroidery. 

I  do  not  think  either  of  us  said  much,  but  I  felt  that  we 
had  a  kindred  interest  in  the  spectacle.  Within  there  was 
warmth  and  light  and  life;  outside,  impressive  silence 
reigned  unbroken,  with  the  coldness  of  the  grave.  Yet 
there  was  one  man  who,  poorly  nourished  and  still  more 
poorly  clad,  had  the  courage  to  cross  long  leagues  of  frozen 
prairie  on  foot,  for  presently  we  heard  a  knocking  at  the 
door,  and  after  an  altercation  with  somebody  outside  a 
stranger  walked  with  uneven  steps  into  the  room.  White 
crystals  sprinkled  his  old  English  coat,  a  most  inadequate 
protection  against  such  weather,  while  his  breath  was  frozen 
about  the  collar,  and  the  fur  cap  he  could  scarcely  hold  in 


A  RECKONING  95 

one  stiffened  hand  was  of  the  cheap  and  rubbishly  descrip- 
tion that  Jew  peddlers  retail  to  the  new  arrival  in  Winnipeg. 
His  age  might  have  been  fifty,  but  he  had  been  bent  by 
toil  or  sickness,  and  his  pinched  face  was  a  study  in  itself. 
Anxiety,  suspense,  and  fierce  determination  seemed  written 
on  it. 

"  I'm  wanting  Ralph  Lorimer,  who  came  out  from  Eng- 
land. They  told  me  he  was  here,"  he  said,  and  clutched 
at  the  table,  for,  as  often  happens,  the  change  of  tempera- 
ture had  been  too  much  for  him. 

Then  I  recollected  what  Jasper,  who  had  been  in  to 
Winnipeg,  told  me  a  day  or  two  before.  "  I  looked  in  at 
the  Tecumseh  House,  and  the  clerk  mentioned  that  a  wild 
man  from  the  old  country  had  been  asking  for  you. 
Wouldn't  answer  any  questions;  a  lunatic  of  some  sort,  the 
clerk  reckoned," 

Nevertheless,  as  I  stood  up  by  the  window  I  had  no 
suspicion  of  the  truth,  though  perhaps  Harry  had,  for, 
drawing  forward  a  chair,  he  said :  "  Feeling  dizzy,  are 
you  not?  Better  sit  down.  But  before  we  answer  I 
should  like  to  know  who  you  are,  and  what  you  want  with 
him." 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  thee?"  was  the  fierce  an- 
swer. "  I'm  wanting  Ralph  Lorimer,  and  if  he's  alive  in 
Canada  I'll  find  him!" 

I  stepped  out  into  the  lamplight,  saying:  "You  need 
not  search  far.  With  your  permission,  Miss  Carrington! 
Now  I  am  only  a  guest  here.     Will  you  follow  me  ?  " 

The  drawn  face  twitched,  his  left  hand  was  clenched, 
and  the  other  fumbled  inside  the  breast  of  the  threadbare 
coat  as  the  old  man  turned  to  meet  me. 

"  No;  here  before  them  all  I'll  ask  thee,"  he  said  hoarsely. 
"  I'm  Adam  Lee  of  Stoney  Clough.  Where's  my  daughter, 
Minnie  Lee,  that  left  her  home  to  follow  thee?  " 


96        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

The  words  seemed  to  break  in  on  the  warmth  and 
harmony  like  a  blast  of  Arctic  cold,  and  sudden  silence 
followed  them.  Colonel  Carrington  leaned  forward  with 
an  angry  glitter  in  his  eyes,  Miss  Carrington  watched  me 
in  cold  surprise,  and  Grace  —  well,  I  do  not  care  to  recall 
her  face.  Once  afterward  I  saw  her  look  the  same,  and 
was  thankful  that  her  scornful  glance  rested  on  another 
man.  Then,  while  I  stood  bolt  upright,  staring  at  the 
speaker,  and  wondering  how  I  could  make  the  matter 
plain,  others  intervened,  for  Ormond,  turning  toward 
Colonel  Carrington,  said: 

"  I  fancy,  sir,  this  is  not  the  place  for  —  er  — such  expla- 
nations.    They  might  prove  embarrassing." 

Colonel  Carrington  glanced  at  his  sister,  who  followed 
by  the  rest  had  already  risen  from  her  chair,  beckoning  to 
Grace,  but  Harry  broke  in. 

"  I  agree  with  Captain  Ormond  in  part,"  he  said,  "  but 
this  is  a  serious  matter.  We  have  all  unfortunately 
heard  the  charge,  and  in  fairness  to  Mr.  Lorimer  we  should 
hear  him  refute  it.  It's  either  a  cruel  mistake,  sir,  or 
gratuitous  malice,  and  I  would  stake  my  last  dollar  on 
his  honor.     A  few  words  will  suffice." 

It  was  a  kindly  thought  of  Harry's,  and  the  Colonel 
nodded. 

"  You  will  excuse  us,  Jessy,"  he  said.  "  Geoffrey,  as  a 
matter  of  fairness  he  is  perfectly  right.  Now,  sir,  for 
the  space  of  two  minutes  will  you  restrain  your  impatience 
and  follow  us?  " 

Adam  Lee  of  Stoney  Clough,  however,  thought  differ- 
ently. I  had  never  seen  him  before,  but  I  knew  him  well 
by  reputation;  for,  though  not  born  there,  he  was  one  of  the 
erratic  ultra-reformers  one  may  find  in  many  an  English 
industrial  town.  They  have  left  all  regular  creeds  and 
parties  behind,  and  look  for  the  regeneration  of  an  iniquitous 


A  RECKONING  97 

world  by  some  fantastic  new  religion,  or  the  subversion  of 
all  existing  authorities.  Some,  it  is  true,  live  lives  of  self- 
denial,  and  die,  worn  out  by  disappointment,  of  a  broken 
heart,  but  the  rest  develop  into  fanatics  of  savage  bigotry. 

"No!  I've  followed  him  weary  and  hungry  for  many 
days,"  he  said.  "  He  doesn't  leave  my  sight  until  he  has 
answered  me.  Stop!  you  that  sit  warm  in  luxury,  pam- 
pering your  sinful  bodies  and  grinding  the  poor,  you  shall 
hear  what  one  of  your  kind  has  done,  and  judge  between  us. 
The  tale  will  be  good  for  you.  Shall  the  rich  rob  us  of  our 
children,  as  they  rob  us  of  our  bread?  " 

He  flung  out  one  arm  as  he  spoke,  and  there  was  a  rude 
power  in  voice  and  gesture  that  commanded  attention. 
Neither  was  his  accent  now  altogether  that  of  Lancashire, 
for  Lee,  as  is  not  uncommon,  would  sometimes  speak  a 
purer  English  than  the  local  vernacular.  Miss  Carrington 
glanced  past  him  toward  the  door,  irresolute,  and  Grace 
leaned  forward  staring  at  him  as  though  fascinated,  while 
perhaps  I  of  all  the  others  found  the  sentiment  familiar. 
It  was  the  same  spirit  which,  trammeled  by  poverty  and 
ignorance,  stirs  many  a  man  weary  of  a  hopeless  struggle 
for  better  things,  and  blazes  into  strange  coruscations  of 
eloquence  in  market-square  orations  and  from  the  platforms 
of  conventicles  where  men  whose  religion  is  a  thing  of 
terror  worship  the  jealous  God  of  the  Hebrews. 

"  Nay,  sit  still  and  hear."  The  words  fell  as  though 
they  were  an  order.  "  I  am  a  poor  man,  a  maker  of  shoes 
for  the  poor  who  could  not  always  buy  them,  and  I  had  one 
daughter.  She  was  all  I  had,  and  I  wrestled  with  the 
devil  for  her  that  she  might  escape  perdition  through  the 
snare  of  beauty.  But  the  nephew  of  a  rich  man  cast  desir- 
ing eyes  upon  her,  and  Satan  helped  him.  He  might  well 
be  strong  and  comely,  for  he  fed  on  the  finest,  while  when 
trade  was  bad  half  of  us  went  cold  and  hungry  in  Stoney 


98        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Clough;  but  he  was  filled  with  the  wiles  of  the  devil  and 
the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  so  when  there  were  plenty  of  his  own 
kind  to  choose  among  he  tempted  the  poor  man's  daughter 
who  worked  for  a  pittance  in  his  uncle's  mill.  Her  mother 
died;  they  mocked  me  at  the  chapel;  and  I  have  come  four 
thousand  miles  to  find  him,  but  now  and  here  he  shall 
answer.  Ralph  Lorimer  of  Orb  Mill,  where  is  Minnie 
Lee?" 

His  hand  was  clear  of  the  threadbare  coat  now;  some- 
thing glinted  in  it,  and  I  looked  into  the  muzzle  of  a  pistol. 
But  Geoffrey  Ormond,  in  spite  of  his  surface  languidness, 
was  quick  of  thought  and  action,  and  with  swift  dexterity 
gripped  his  right  arm  from  behind.  Then,  and  we  were 
never  quite  sure  how  it  happened,  though  the  weapon  was 
evidently  a  cheap  Belgian  revolver,  and  perhaps  the  hammer 
shook  down,  there  was  a  ringing  crash,  a  cry  from  Grace,  a 
tinkle  of  falling  glass,  and  Adam  Lee  stood  empty-handed, 
while  Ormond,  who  flung  down  the  smoking  weapon,  said 
coolly : 

"It  is  safer  with  me.  These  things  are  dangerous  to 
people  who  don't  understand  them,  and  you  may  be  thankful 
that,  without  perhaps  intending  it,  you  are  not  a  murderer." 

"  Thank  you,  Geoffrey,"  said  Colonel  Carrington.  "  Lee, 
sit  down.  I  don't  know  what  your  religious  or  political 
crazes  are,  and  it  doesn't  matter,  but  I  have  rather  more 
power  here  than  an  English  magistrate,  and  if  you  move 
again,  by  the  Lord  I'll  send  you  in  irons  to  Winnipeg  for 
attempted  murder.  Mr.  Lorimer,  I  am  not  inclined  to 
thank  you,  but  if  you  have  any  explanation  you  had  better 
give  it  to  him." 

Lee,  I  learned,  was  a  fearless  man,  with  the  full  courage 
of  his  somewhat  curious  convictions,  but  there  were  few 
who  could  withstand  Colonel  Carrington,  and,  half-dazed, 


A  RECKONING  99 

half-savage,  he  did  his  bidding,  while  again  every  eye  in 
the  room  was  turned  upon  me. 

"  Minnie  Lee  was  certainly  employed  in  my  uncle's  mill 
in  Lancashire/'  I  said  slowly,  "  but  on  my  word  of  honor 
nothing  ever  passed  between  us  that  all  the  world  might 
not  hear.  She  married  a  former  clerk  there,  one  Thomas 
Fletcher,  secretly,  and  at  present  lives  with  him  at  the 
Willow  Lake  creamery.  I  met  her  for  the  first  time  in 
Canada  at  the  Elktail  hotel,  where  she  was  a  waitress,  and 
at  her  request  helped  to  find  her  husband  the  situation.  She 
promised  to  write  home,  but  evidently  did  not  do  so." 

"  It  is  perfectly  true,"  said  Harry.  "  I  was  present  at 
that  meeting.  If  our  visitor  has  any  doubts  on  the  subject 
he  has  only  to  ride  over  there  and  see." 

Lee  gasped  for  breath,  recovered  himself,  and  strode 
toward  me  with  fingers  trembling  and  his  eyes  blood-shot. 

"Is  it  true?"  he  said.  "I  know  thy  vain  pride  in  an 
honor  that  can  stoop  to  steal  the  honor  of  the  poor;  it  is 
only  women  to  whom  thy  kind  tell  lies.  Here,  before  these 
witnesses,  tell  me  again,  is  it  Gospel  true?  " 

He  seemed  half-crazed  by  excitement  and  over-fatigue, 
while  his  relief  was  evidently  tempered  by  a  fear  that  we 
might  yet  be  bent  on  duping  him;  but  I  pitied  him  in  all 
sincerity,  for  whatever  were  his  foibles  it  was  evident  that 
this  broken-down  wreck  of  humanity  with  the  warped 
intellect  loved  his  daughter,  and  as  I  wondered  what  would 
most  quickly  set  his  mind  at  rest  Harry  said  stiffly: 

"  We  do  not  lie  to  any  one,  and  we  are  poor  men,  too. 
At  least  we  work  for  a  bare  living  harder  than  many  English 
poor.  On  his  friend's  word  as  —  well,  in  deference  to  your 
prejudices,  we'll  say  an  honest  man  —  Mr.  Lorimer  has 
told  you  nothing  but  the  truth.  You  will  find  Mrs. 
Fletcher  safe  and  well  at  the  Willow  Lake  creamery." 


100       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Then  I'm  going  there  now,"  was  the  answer.  "  I 
thank  thee  for  the  story.  No,  I  don't  want  the  pistol.  It 
was  the  devil  tempted  me  to  bring  it,  but  it  was  only  to 
force  the  truth  from  him,  and  it  went  off  of  itself." 

"  You  are  somewhat  premature,"  said  Colonel  Carring- 
ton.  "  We  haven't  quite  done  with  you.  As  I  said,  I  hold 
myself  responsible  for  the  peace  of  Carrington,  and  though 
I  am  inclined  to  believe  it  was  an  accident,  you  can't  ride 
twenty  miles  hungry  at  midnight.  You  came  here  without 
my  invitation,  and  you  have  customs  of  your  own,  but 
you'll  certainly  get  lost  and  frozen  on  the  prairie  if  you 
leave  this  house  before  to-morrow  morning." 

They  stood  facing  each  other,  a  curious  contrast,  the 
pinched  and  bowed  cobbler  and  the  army  officer,  but  there  was 
the  same  stubborn  pride  in  both;  for  with  a  quaint  dignity, 
which  in  some  measure  covered  its  discourtesy,  the  former 
made  answer  in  the  tongue  of  the  spinning  country: 

"  I  thank  thee,  but  I  take  no  favors  from  the  rich.  Thou 
and  the  others  like  thee  have  all  the  smooth  things  in  this 
life,  though  even  they  cannot  escape  the  bitterness  that  is 
hidden  under  them.  Well,  maybe  thou'lt  find  a  difference 
in  the  next.     Good  night  to  thee." 

He  marched  out,  and  we  heard  the  door  crash  to. 

"  I  dare  say  he  is  right,"  the  Colonel  said,  with  a  curious 
smile.  "  At  times  I  almost  hope  we  will.  An  interesting 
character,  slightly  mad,  I  think;  heard  of  such  people,  but 
I  never  met  them." 

This  was  evidently  true,  for  the  lot  of  Colonel  Car- 
rington had  not  been  cast  among  the  alleys  of  a  spinning 
town  where  the  heavens  are  blackened  by  factory  smoke, 
and  as  the  silver  value  changes  in  the  East  there  is  hunger 
among  the  operatives.  In  such  places  the  mind  of  many  a 
thinking  man,  worn  keen  as  it  were  by  poor  living,  sickened 
by  foulness  and  monotony,  makes  fantastic  efforts  to  reach 


A  RECKONING  101 

beyond  its  environment,  and  occasionally  hurries  its  owner 
to  the  brink  of  what  some  call  insanity,  and  perhaps  is  not  so. 

Then  one  lonely  and  pathetic  figure,  with  bent  head 
and  shambling  gait,  grew  smaller  down  the  great  white 
waste  of  prairie. 

"I  am  very  sorry  for  him,"  Grace  said,  "  but  the  poor 
old  man  will  never  reach  Willow  Lake  on  foot,  even  if  he 
could  find  the  way.  He  must  have  walked  many  miles 
already,  and  he  will  be  frozen  before  morning.  Some  one 
must  go  after  him." 

"If  you  will  allow  us,  Miss  Carrington,  I  think  we  had 
better  take  our  leave  and  drive  him  there  on  our  homeward 
way.  I  am  sorry  that  all  this  happened  under  your  roof,"  I 
said.  "  Harry,  we  must  hurry  before  we  lose  him ;  "  and 
Colonel   Carrington   answered   coldly. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  you." 

Brief  leavetakings  followed.  Miss  Carrington  was  cor- 
dial, but,  and  it  may  have  been  exaggeration  of  sentiment,  I 
dare  not  look  at  Grace  with  the  shadow  of  such  a  charge 
hanging  over  me.  Neither,  I  think,  did  the  Colonel  shake 
hands  with  me;  and  when  the  sleigh  sped  hissing  down 
the  beaten  trail  Harry  said: 

"  Ralph,  you  almost  make  one  angry.  Of  course,  she 
is  too  high  for  you;  but  there  was  no  reason  you  should 
look  like  a  convicted  felon  when  we  took  the  trouble  to 
demonstrate  your  innocence.  Confusion  to  Thomas  Fletcher 
and  all  his  works,  I  say!  Why  should  that  invertebrate 
wastrel  have  turned  up  to  plague  us  so  ?  " 

Some  time  had  elapsed  before  we  got  the  horses  har- 
nessed, because  they  objected  strenuously,  and  several  branch- 
ing trails  crossed  the  prairie,  so  we  spent  a  much  longer 
time  than  I  liked  in  driving  through  the  bitter  cold  before 
we  found  my  late  accuser  sitting  under  a  copse  of  willows, 
and    apparently    awaiting   his    death.     As    the   settlers    say 


102       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

when  it  freezes  on  the  prairie,  you  can't  fool  with  that 
kind  of  cold.     Harry  for  some  reason  swore  profanely. 

"  Get  in,  and  we'll  take  you  straight  to  Willow  Lake," 
he  said,  lifting  the  unfortunate  man,  who  already  had 
almost  lost  the  use  of  his  limbs,  and  who  answered  with 
his  teeth  chattering: 

"  You  two  are  very  good;  I  couldn't  drag  myself  further; 
walked  there  from  Elktail  to-day,  and  I  felt  main  drowsy. 
What  brought  thee  after  me?  From  one  of  thy  sort  I 
never  expected  it." 

"  I  don't  care  what  you  expected,"  said  Harry  briefly,  "  so 
you  needn't  trouble  to  tell  me.  Get  into  these  furs  here 
before  you  freeze  to  death;  another  half-hour  would  have 
made  an  end  of  you." 

The  team  already  had  traveled  far  that  day,  but  they 
responded  gallantly  to  Harry's  encouragement.  The  cold 
bit  deep,  however,  and  I  could  scarcely  move  a  limb  when, 
toward  midnight,  with  a  hiss  of  runners  and  a  jingle  of 
bells,  we  came  into  sight  of  Fletcher's  shanty  by  Willow 
Lake.  As  luck  would  have  it  a  light  still  shone  in  the 
window,  and  he  opened  the  door  when  Harry  and  I  made 
shift  to  draw  some  wrappings  over  the  team.  It  grieved 
me  to  leave  the  poor  beasts  waiting  there,  for  I  found  it 
difficult  even  to  speak. 

"  It's  Mr.  Lorimer,  Minnie,"  Fletcher  shouted ;  and 
before  I  could  intervene  a  woman's  shape  filled  the  lighted 
door,  while  Harry  said  softly,  u  Confound  it!  I  hoped  to 
have  got  out  before  the  play  commenced." 

"  We  have  brought  you  a  visitor,  Minnie,"  I  said.  "  You 
must  not  be  surprised.  There's  nothing  too  strange  to 
happen  in  a  new  country.  Harry,  help  me  with  him ;  " 
and  between  us  we  half  carried  Lee  inside,  for  all  the 
strength  had  gone  out  of  him.  The  hot  room  reeled  about 
me,  and  there  was  a  drumming  in  my  head,  but  with  an 


A  RECKONING  103 

effort,  I  said,  "  It's  your  father,  Minnie.     You  forgot  the 
letter,  and  he  came  over  to  Carrington  in  search  of  me." 

She  dropped  the  stove-iron  in  her  hand  with  a  startled 
cry.     Fletcher  blinked  at  us  stupidly,  and  the  old  man  sat  - 
down  with  one  elbow  on  the  table  and  his  head  drooping 
forward  limply,  while  for  a  moment  or  two  afterward  no  m 
one   moved,    and   the    ticking   of    a   nickeled    clock   almost 
maddened   me.     Then   the   woman   came   forward    timidly 
with  the  word  "  Father  "  on  her  lips,  and  Lee,  groaning  as  " 
though  in  pain,  checked  her  with  a  gesture,  "  Who  is  this 
man  here,  lass?"  he  said. 

"  My  husband,  Thomas  Fletcher ;  you  ought  to  remem- 
ber him.     We  were  married  before  I  left  home,"  she  said. 

Harry  coughed,  while  Lee  said  hoarsely:  "  I  thank  the 
Lord  for  it;  lass,  thou  hast  acted  cruelly,  but  we'll  say  no 
more  of  that.  I've  left  all  I  had  to  find  thee,  and  now  I'm 
only  glad." 

There  were  tears  in  Minnie's  eyes  as  she  leaned  over 
him  with  one  arm  round  his  shoulder,  but  I  fancied  there 
was  a  flash  of  resentment  in  them  too. 

"  If  you  had  listened  that  night  before  you  said  what 
you  did,  all  might  have  been  different,"  she  answered. 
"  But  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,  and  hungry  for  news.  How 
did  you  leave  mother,  and  the  shop?  I  don't  care  to  hear 
about  the  chapel." 

"  Thy  mother  is  dead.  The  Lord  took  her,"  the  old 
man  answered  solemnly,  though  as  yet  the  warmth  brought 
only  pain  to  him.  "  I'll  hear  no  word  against  the  chapel. 
Nay,"  as  the  woman  straightened  herself  with  a  cry,  "  she 
grieved  sorely;  but  it  was  the  typhoid,  and  to  the  last  she 
would  hear  no  ill  of  thee.  The  shop,  I  sold  it;  and  maybe 
there's  harness  to  mend,  and  saddles,  that  will  earn  my 
bread  in  this  country.  I'm  an  old  broken  man,  and  a  little 
will  content  me.     A  weary  time  of  struggle  and  black  shame 


104      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I've  suffered  for  thee;  but  now  there's  nought  that  matters 
when  I  find  thee  so." 

"  We  must  go,"  I  said.  "  Our  team  is  freezing  and  we 
can't  afford  to  lose  it;"  and  Minnie,  touching  her 
father,  said,  "  You  should  thank  Mr.  Lorimer.  Forty  miles 
at  least  he  has  driven  to-day,  and  there's  another  fifteen 
before  him ;  "  but  ere  he  could  turn  I  bundled  Harry  out 
of  the  door,  and  two  minutes  later  we  were  flying  across 
the  prairie. 

"  I'm  sorry  for  the  old  man,"  said  Harry.  "  Fletcher 
didn't  look  delighted,  and  perhaps  it's  not  to  be  wondered 
at.  As  to  Minnie,  she'll  probably  cry  over  him  all  night; 
but  I  hardly  fancy  she  has  quite  forgiven  him.  It's  not  a 
nice  thing,  either,  when  you  think  of  it.  And  I  suppose 
it  cost  the  old  fanatic  a  fearful  wrench  to  give  up  what 
he  considered  his  mission  to  reform  that  benighted  town. 
Lord,  what  fools  —  it's  true  —  we  mortals  are." 

I  was  too  drowsy  and  cold  to  answer,  and  how  we  got 
the  team  into  the  stables  or  even  found  Fairmead  I  do 
not  remember ;  but  we  probably  did  it  by  force  of  habit,  and 
it  was  high  noon  the  next  day  before  we  awakened. 


CHAPTER  X 

A   FORWARD   POLICY 

/^RACE  and  I  met  often  again  before  the  thaw  in  spring 
put  an  end  to  all  thoughts  of  amusement.  Each  time 
she  seemed  to  place  me  on  a  more  friendly  footing,  and  I  laid 
myself  out  to  cultivate  the  good-will  of  the  Carrington 
settlers,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  her  at  their  gatherings,  for 
they  at  least  enjoyed  themselves  during  the  winter.  Some 
of  the  younger  gallants  regarded  me  with  evident  hostility; 
but  I  could  afford  to  smile  at  them,  because,  though  the 
heiress  of  Carrington  was  gracious  to  all,  she  seemed  to 
find  more  pleasure  in  my  company  than  in  their  attentions. 
Still,  at  last  even  Harry  grumbled  w4ien,  half-frozen  and 
with  a  worn-out  team,  I  reached  Fairmead  at  dawn. 
"  We'll  want  another  pair  of  horses  if  this  is  to  continue," 
he  said,  "  Ralph,  it's  not  my  business,  but  I'm  afraid  you 
are  laying  up  trouble  for  yourself." 

There  were,  however,  disappointments,  for  now  and  then 
I  drove  long  leagues  through  whirling  snow  or  bitter  frost 
only  to  find  that  Grace  was  not  present,  and  it  was  on 
one  of  these  occasions  that  I  betrayed  my  secret  to  her 
aunt,  Miss  Carrington.  She  had  been  visiting  an  outlying 
farm,  and  though  there  were  others  upon  whom  the  duty 
devolved  I  insisted  on  driving  her  home.  In  my  case  it 
was  an  inestimable  privilege,  for  by  good  fortune  Grace 
might  be  waiting  to  welcome  her.  I  had  been  silent  all 
evening,  and  when  with  a  hissing  beneath  the  steel  runners 
and  a  rhythmic  beat  of  hoofs  we  swept  on  under  radiant 

105 


106       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

moonlight,  Miss  Carrington  made  some  jesting  comment 
upon  it.  Perhaps  the  exhilarating  rush  through  the  cold, 
still  air  had  stirred  me  into  undue  frankness,  for  I  an- 
swered : 

"  Grace  was  not  there,  and  nothing  seems  the  same 
without  her.  She  brings  an  atmosphere  of  brightness  with 
her,  and  one  learns  to  miss  it.  What  would  this  prairie 
look  like  if  a  cloud  obscured  the  moon  ?  " 

Miss  Carrington  smiled  a  little,  glancing  at  me  keenly, 
as  she  said:  "A  pretty  simile!  It  was  more  than  I  ex- 
pected after  your  rueful  looks  to-night.  But  you  are  not 
singular.  There  are  others  in  the  Carrington  settlement 
who  think  the  same  —  young  men  with  many  rich  acres 
and  wealthy  kinsfolk  behind  them  at  home." 

Her  voice  changed,  and  I  think  the  last  part  was  intended 
to  have  its  meaning,  but  a  sudden  impulse  overcame  my 
reason,  and  I  answered  rashly: 

"  That  may  well  be,  but  there  are  none  among  them 
who  would  work  or  starve  for  her  as  I  should.  I  am  only 
a  poor  settler,  but  with  one  purpose  always  before  him  a 
determined  man  may  accomplish  much.  However,  I  didn't 
mean  to  tell  you  or  any  one  this  until  —  my  partner  and  I 
have  accomplished  something;  and  yet  perhaps  I  have  said 
too  much  not  to  finish." 

Miss  Carrington  moved  in  her  wrappings  so  that  she 
could  meet  my  eyes,  but  wThen  I  returned  her  gaze  steadily 
it  was  a  relief  to  find  sympathy  rather  than  anger  in  her 
face. 

"  I  think  you  have,"  she  said,  with  gentleness. 

So,  tightening  my  grip  on  the  reins,  I  continued  dog- 
gedly: "Then,  even  at  the  risk  of  seeming  a  presumptuous 
fool,  you  shall  hear  it  all.  This  new  land  is  for  the  strong 
and  enterprising,  who  will  stake  their  best  on  success  within 
it,  and  with  the  hope  I  have  before  me  I  must  succeed.     So 


A  FORWARD  POLICY  107 

while  brain  and  sinew  hold  out  neither  drought,  nor  frost, 
nor  hardship  shall  turn  me  aside  until  —  until  I  am  more 
equal  in  worldly  possessions  with  Colonel  Carrington. 
Others  have  risen  from  obscurity  to  hold  many  acres,  and 
somehow  I  feel  that  I  shall  do  so  too.  But  if  I  owned 
half  the  Dominion  it  would  be  little  to  offer  Miss  Carring- 
ton, and  without  her  my  present  holding  would  content 
me."  Then  I  ended  slowly,  "  I  wonder  whether,  even  in 
that  case,  there  would  be  any  chance  for  me?" 

My  companion's  face  was  grave  under  the  moonlight, 
but  she  touched  my  arm  with  a  friendly  gesture,  as  she 
answered:  "  Those  are  a  young  man's  words,  and  I  suppose 
some  would  call  them  foolish;  but  though  I  am  old  I  like 
the  spirit  in  them.  After  all,  even  in  these  days,  we  have 
not  done  with  romance,  and  a  stout  heart  is  often  better 
than  land  and  property.  Grace  is  like  you  in  many  ways; 
she  takes  life  seriously,  and  I  fancy  she  sees,  as  I  do,  that 
some  of  us  are  spending  our  best  on  pleasure  in  Carrington. 
My  brother  is  a  stern,  proud  man,  and  yet,  as  you  say,  the 
good  things  come  to  those  who  can  fight  and  wait  for  them. 
More  I  cannot  tell  you." 

"  Thank  you,  Miss  Carrington,"  I  answered,  feeling  that 
for  ever  afterward  she  had  made  me  her  servant.  "  Now, 
please  forget  it  all  until  some  day  I  say  the  same  thing  to 
Colonel  Carrington;  and  forgive  me  for  ever  telling  you," 
but  her  eyes  were  troubled  as  she  turned  her  face  away. 

We  reached  the  manor  safely,  but  I  caught  no  glimpse 
of  Grace,  and  Colonel  Carrington  hardly  troubled  to  thank 
me,  wThile  Harry  pitied  the  team  when  I  led  it  into  our 
stable.  A  few  days  afterward,  when  we  spent  all  of  one 
afternoon  discussing  finances  and  our  program  for  spring, 
he  agreed  with  me  when,  contrary  to  my  usual  caution,  I 
suggested  that  we  should  make  a  plunge  that  year  by  pur- 
chasing a  gang-plow  and  hiring  more  horses,  then,  giving  a 


108       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

bond  on  the  homestead  and  expected  crop,  sink  the  last 
dollar  we  could  raise  in  sowing  the  utmost  acreage  and 
breaking  more  sod  on  the  free  land  we  had  pre-empted. 
There  was  a  sporting  instinct  in  Harry  which  made  him 
willing  to  run  risks  that  I  generally  should  have  avoided. 

Now,  however,  I  was  bent  on  playing  a  bold  game, 
trusting  in  the  axiom  that  those  who  nothing  venture  cannot 
expect  to  win.  Also,  on  the  prairie  the  credit  system  is 
universal,  and  though  some  abuse  it,  it  has  its  advantages. 
For  instance,  the  settler  may  obtain  seed,  implements,  and 
provisions  on  a  promise  to  pay  with  interest  after  harvest, 
and  thus  he  is  enabled  to  break  an  extra  quantity  of  virgin 
soil.  If  the  crop  is  good  all  benefit  alike  —  dealer,  maker 
of  implements,  and  grower  of  wheat;  while  if  the  grain 
fails,  instead  of  one  man  to  bear  it  there  are  several  to 
divide  the  loss. 

So  we  pledged  our  credit  up  to  the  hilt,  and,  though  at 
times  I  grew  grave  as  I  wondered  what  would  happen  if 
there  should  be  hail  or  frost,  we  commenced  work  in 
earnest  with  the  first  of  the  thaw,  and  drilled  in  grain 
enough  to  leave  us  an  ample  profit  if  all  went  well.  Then 
we  would  double  our  sowing  next  year,  and,  so  Harry  said, 
in  a  few  seasons  rise  to  affluence.  It  was  a  simple  program, 
and  fortunes  have  been  made  in  that  way;  but,  as  we  were 
to  find,  it  also  leads  occasionally  to  disaster. 

It  was  a  gray  day  in  spring,  and  a  cold  wind  swept  the 
grasses  as  I  stood  beside  the  double  yoke  of  oxen  and  the 
great  breaker-plow,  when  Colonel  Carrington,  who  was 
passing  that  way,  rode  toward  me  across  the  prairie.  While 
I  wondered  what  his  errand  might  be,  I  saw  two  mounted 
figures  outlined  against  the  somber  sky  on  the  crest  of  a 
distant  rise,  whom  I  recognized  as  Grace  and  Captain 
Ormond.  The  Colonel  rode  a  splendid  bay  horse,  and 
after  the  first  greeting  he  sat  looking  down  at  me  ironically 


A  FORWARD  POLICY  109 

awhile,  erect,  soldierly,  and  immaculately  neat  down  to  the 
burnished  stirrups  and  the  toes  of  his  speckless  boots.  In 
no  circumstances  did  the  Colonel  forget  that  he  once  com- 
manded a  famous  regiment,  and  now  ruled  drastically  over 
Carrington,  while  I  must  have  appeared  a  sufficiently 
homely  object,  in  battered  slouch  hat  and  torn  blue  overalls, 
with  the  mire  clinging  to  my  leggings. 

"  You  are  staking  heavily  on  the  weather  this  year ;  I 
wonder  what  for,"  he  said,  glancing  down  the  long  furrows, 
and  I  felt  there  was  a  warning  in  it,  for  this  man  seldom 
wasted  words.  "  The  last  time  I  passed  it  struck  me  that 
you  had  better,  as  they  say  here,  go  slow  and  not  risk  a 
surety  on  the  chance  of  what  you  can  never  attain.  It 
takes  capital  to  farm  on  a  large  scale,  you  know.  By  the 
way,  I  came  to  tell  you  that  we  will  not  want  the  disc- 
harrows, so  you  can  keep  them  until  your  work  is  finished, 
and  as  Miss  Carrington  —  Miss  Grace  Carrington  —  is 
going  to  England  shortly  we  shall  be  occupied  with  prepa- 
ration for  some  time.  This  will  save  you  from  wasting 
precious  hours  riding  over  just  now  in  the  busy  season. 
Well,  I  must  join  the  others.     Good-day  to  you." 

He  wheeled  his  horse  with  a  parting  salutation,  a  slender 
figure  waved  a  hand  to  me  from  the  crest  of  the  rise 
before  it  sank  below  the  sky-line,  and  that  was  the  last 
I  saw  of  Grace  Carrington  for  many  a  day,  while  breathing 
hard  I  watched  the  horseman  grow  smaller  across  the 
prairie.  Her  father  sometimes  delighted  to  speak  in  meta- 
phor, and  I  could  not  fail  to  recognize  that  it  was  a  plain 
hint  he  had,  perhaps  in  grim  kindness,  given  me.  For  a 
moment  I  wondered  whether  I  should  have  made  him  listen 
in  turn,  and  I  was  glad  I  had  not,  for  his  words  stung  me 
like  a  whip,  and  it  would  not  have  helped  matters  if  I  had 
spoken  my  mind  to  him.  Then,  shaking  myself  together, 
I  called  to  the  oxen,  reflecting  that  many  a  formerly  poor 


110       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

man  had  married  the  daughter  of  even  a  greater  man  than 
Colonel  Carrington,  while  if  it  were  a  matter  of  land  and 
money  that  divided  us,  every  extra  furrow  brought  me  so 
much  nearer  to  her.  Still,  I  was  graver  than  usual,  even 
until  the  plowing  was  done,  and  Harry,  not  knowing  the 
reason,  commented  satirically  upon  it.     , 

The  thaw  came  early  that  year,  and  the  latter  snow 
had  been  light,  while  steady  dry  weather  followed  it,  and 
there  were  times  when  I  felt  that  I  should  have  given 
several  years  of  my  life  for  rain.  It  came,  and,  though 
there  was  not  much  of  it,  as  if  by  magic  tender  grain 
stood  a  handbreadth  above  the  black  loam,  while  I  watched 
it  lengthen  daily  with  my  heart  in  my  eyes,  and  I  grew 
feverishly  anxious  about  the  weather.  Many  things  de- 
pended on  the  success  of  that  crop.  Then  suddenly  it  was 
summer,  the  hottest  summer  for  ten  seasons,  our  neighbors 
said,  and  I  wondered  how  we  would  manage  to  cut  hay  for 
our  own  beasts,  and  the  teams  we  had  purchased  condi- 
tionally, because  long  grass  was  scanty.  Assistance  was 
equally  scarce,  for,  seeing  us  reach  out  toward  prosperity, 
our  friends  evidently  considered  that  we  were  now  well 
able  to  help  ourselves. 

It  was  done  somehow,  though  often  for  a  week  together 
we  worked  all  day  and  most  of  the  night,  until  there  was 
only  an  hour  or  two  left  before  the  dawn,  and  I  lay  wide 
awake,  too  overstrung  and  fatigued  to  sleep.  Once,  too, 
in  the  burning  heat  of  noon  I  fell  from  the  wagon  in  a  state 
of  limp  collapse,  and  there  were  occasions  when  Harry, 
with  a  paler  color  than  usual,  lay  for  long  spaces  gasping 
in  the  shade.  We  could  spare  little  time  for  cooking,  or  a 
tedious  journey  to  bring  in  provisions,  so  when  one  thing 
ran  out  we  made  shift  with  the  rest.  Still,  we  observed 
Sunday,  and  once  Harry  laughed  as  he  said:  "  I'm  thankful 
there  is  a  Fourth  Commandment,  for  without  it  we  should 


A  FORWARD  POLICY  111 

have  caved  in  utterly.  Do  you  know  we've  been  living  on 
potatoes,  tea,  and  porridge  every  meal  for  the  last  ten 
days?  It's  doubtful  whether  we  can  hold  out  until  harvest, 
and  you'll  remember  it's  then  that  the  pace  grows  killing." 

For  the  first  time  I  noticed  that  his  face  was  very  thin 
under  the  sun-burn,  and  perhaps  he  read  my  thoughts,  for 
he  laughed. 

"  We  have  taken  on  too  big  a  contract,  Ralph,"  he  said, 
"  but  once  in  we'll  carry  it  through.  Still,  I  wish  I  had 
been  born  with  the  frame  of  a  bullock,  like  you." 

I  lay  in  a  hide  chair  ten  hours  together  that  Sunday, 
only  moving  to  light  the  stove  for  Harry,  or  to  consume 
another  pint  of  strong  green  tea,  which  is  generally  our 
sole  indulgence  on  the  prairie.  It  might  not,  however,  have 
suited  fastidious  palates,  because  the  little  squirrel-like 
gophers  which  abounded  everywhere,  burrowing  near  by, 
fell  into  the  well  by  scores,  and  we  had  no  leisure  to  fish 
them  out.  Neither  is  there  any  mistaking  the  flavor  of 
gopher  extract.  Meantime  it  grew  hotter  and  drier,  and  I 
had  to  admit  to  myself  that  the  crop  might  have  been 
better,  while  Harry,  to  hide  his  misgivings,  talked  cheerfully 
about  higher  prices,  until  at  last  the  crisis  came. 

I  awoke  one  morning  with  an  unusual  feeling  of  chilli- 
ness, sprang  upright,  and  saw  that  the  first  rays  of  the  red 
sun  scintillated  upon  something  that  was  not  dew  among 
the  grass.  With  a  cry  I  strode  over  to  Harry's  berth. 
Even  half-asleep  he  could  read  the  fear  in  my  face. 

"What  is  it?"  he  asked. 

I  scarcely  knew  my  own  voice  as  I  answered  hoarsely: 
"Frost!" 

We  ran  out  half-dressed,  and  when  we  stood  by  the 
edge  of  the  tall  wheat,  which  was  already  turning  yellow, 
we  knew  that  the  destroyer  had  breathed  upon  our  grain, 
and    that   every   stately   head    contained    its   percentage    of 


112       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

shriveled  berries.  Still,  it  might  yet  sell  under  a  lower  grad- 
ing —  if  there  were  no  more  frost.  But  the  frost  came 
twice  again  —  and  on  the  third  sunrise  I  stood  staring  across 
the  blighted  crop  with  despairing  eyes,  while  my  hands 
would  tremble  in  spite  of  my  will.  Few  men  had  labored 
as  Harry  and  I  had  done;  indeed,  it  was  often  only  the 
hope  of  winning  Grace  Carrington  that  sustained  me,  while 
now  I  was  poorer  far  than  when  first  I  landed  in  Canada. 
Neither  dare  I  contemplate  what  the  result  of  my  folly 
would  be  to  Harry.  But  Harry,  who  seldom  thought  of 
himself,  laid  his  hand  affectionately  on  my  shoulder. 

"Poor  old  Ralph!"  he  said.  "Well,  we  did  our  best, 
and  there's  room  for  us  somewhere  in  this  wide  country. 
I  suppose  it  is  —  hopeless  —  absolutely?  " 

"  Quite!  "  I  answered,  trying  to  steady  my  voice.  "  We 
can  leave  it  with  a  clear  conscience  to  the  gophers.  How- 
ever, we  might  earn  a  little  with  the  teams  to  feed  us 
through  the  winter,  and  strike  out  next  spring  for  British 
Columbia.  The  new  railroad  people  are  open  to  let  track- 
grading  contracts,  you  know.  Lend  me  your  double-barrel ; 
I'm  in  no  mood  for  talking,  and  an  all-day  tramp  after 
prairie-chicken  may  help  to  steady  me." 

I  took  down  the  old  weapon  —  it  was  a  muzzle-loader  — 
and  called  our  little  English  terrier  Grip.  He  was  rather  a 
nuisance  than  otherwise  when  stalking  prairie-fowl,  but  he 
was  an  affectionate  beast,  and  I  felt  glad  of  his  company. 
Then  for  several  hours  I  strode  on  across  the  prairie,  hardly 
seeing  the  clattering  coveys  at  which  Grip  barked  furiously, 
and  I  might  have  wandered  on  until  midnight  but  that 
when  skirting  a  grove  of  willows  he  must  most  foolishly 
follow  the  trail  of  a  coyote.  Now,  the  prairie-wolf,  though 
timorous  enough  where  a  man  is  concerned,  is  generally 
willing  to  try  conclusions  with  even  a  powerful  dog,  and 
when    presently    a   great    snarling   commenced    I    burst   at 


A  FORWARD  POLICY  113 

full  speed  through  the  willows.  It  was  high  time,  for  the 
coyote  had  pinned  the  terrier  down,  and  there  was  barely 
opportunity  to  pitch  up  the  gun  and  take  a  snapshot  at  its 
shoulder  before  my  pet's  struggles  would  have  ended. 

Then  I  ran  in  through  the  smoke  to  find  that  the 
wounded  beast  still  held  the  hapless  dog,  and  as  the  other 
barrel  was  empty  I  swung  the  butt  aloft  and  brought  it 
down  crashing  on  its  head.  However,  the  coyote  was  not 
quite  vanquished  yet,  for  I  felt  its  teeth  almost  meet  in  my  / 
leg,  and  I  stumbled  head  foremost  over  it,  after  which  for  a 
few  moments  there  was  a  mixed-up  scuffle,  until  with  one 
hand  closing  on  the  hairy  throat  I  got  another  chance  to 
bring  down  the  gun-butt.  Then  the  beast  lay  still,  flecked 
all  over  with  blood  and  foam,  while  my  hands  and  clothes 
were  torn,  and  there  were  crimson  patches  about  me. 
Grip  whined  and  licked  my  bleeding  fingers  when  I  lifted 
all  that  seemed  left  of  him,  and  he  presented  a  sorry 
spectacle.  Nevertheless,  for  some  curious  reason  that 
struggle  had  done  me  good,  and,  carrying  the  dog,  I  limped 
home  with  a  wound  in  my  leg,  considerably  more  cheerful 
than  when  I  started  out.  I  even  laughed  as  Harry,  meeting 
me  in  the  doorway,  said,  "  Good  heavens,  Ralph,  what  have 
you  been  doing?     You  look  like  a  butcher." 

"  It's  a  case  of  inherent  savagery,  a  return  to  the  in- 
stincts of  barbaric  days,"  I  answered.  "  I've  been  killing 
a  coyote  with  my  hands,  and  I  feel  better  for  it.  But  don't 
ask  questions;  I'm  almost  famished." 

We  fared  well  that  evening,  for  there  was  no  need  of 
hurry  now,  and  when  the  meal  was  over  we  sat  talking  long 
in  the  little  room.  Already  the  nights  were  closing  in  and 
the  coolness  outside  invigorated  like  wine,  but  we  felt  that 
the  sight  of  the  blighted  wheat  would  not  improve  our 
spirits.  So  I  stated  my  views  as  clearly  as  I  could,  ending 
with  forced  cheerfulness,  though  I  meant  every  syllable  of  it : 


114      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  We  are  not  beaten  yet,  and  if  we  must  go  under  well 
make  at  least  another  tough  fight  of  it." 

Meanwhile  Harry  covered  several  sheets  of  paper  with 
figures. 

"  You  are  perfectly  right,"  he  said  at  last.  "  The  home- 
stead, stock,  and  implements  will  have  to  go;  but  I  think 
well  ask  our  largest  creditors  to  give  us  time  while  we  see 
what  we  can  do  at  the  track-grading.  It's  possible,  but 
not  likely,  that  we  might  earn  enough  to  make  some  arrange- 
ment to  commence  again.  However,  to  consider  the  proba- 
ble, there'll  be  a  meeting  of  creditors,  and  perhaps  enough 
after  the  sale  to  buy  us  a  Colonist  ticket  to  British  Columbia. 
Anyway,  well  ride  out  to-morrow  and  call  on  the  road 
surveyor." 

It  may  have  been  because  we  were  young,  or  the  sus- 
pense had  brought  its  own  reaction,  but  a  faint  hope  com- 
menced to  spring  up  within  us,  and  now,  when  at  least 
we  knew  the  worst,  we  were  both  more  tranquil  than  we 
had  been  for  the  last  three  days,  while  I  slept  peacefully 
until  Harry  roused  me  with  the  news  that  breakfast  was 
ready.  We  started  at  noon,  and  before  the  sun  crossed 
the  meridian  the  next  day  we  found  the  surveyor  busy 
beside  the  new  steel  road  which  stretched  out  across  the 
prairie  from  the  trunk  line  so  many  fathoms  daily.  He 
was  a  native  Canadian,  emphatic  in  gesture,  curt  in  speech, 
with,  as  we  say  here,  a  snap  about  him,  and  he  looked  us 
over  critically  as  I  explained  that  we  were  willing  to  work 
for  him.  I  fancied  there  w^as  satisfaction  in  his  gaze,  and 
this  was  not  unlikely,  for  we  were  both  lean,  hard,  and 
bronzed,  while  our  old  stained  canvas  garments  told  their 
own  tale  of  sturdy  toil. 

"  Guess  I  could  let  you  a  track-grading  contract,"  he 
said  meditatively.  "  We  find  the  scoops,  you  find  the 
teams    and    take    all    risks,    but    it's    pay   up   when    you're 


A  FORWARD  POLICY  115 

through.  Weve  no  use  on  this  road  for  the  men  who 
when  they  strike  a  hard  streak  just  throw  up  their  contract." 

11  What  we  begin  we'll  finish,"  I  answered  with  em- 
phasis, while  Harry  smiled  and  raised  a  warning  hand  un- 
seen by  the  surveyor.  "  Neither  hard  work  nor  hard  luck 
is  new  to  us,  and  if  it  weren't  for  the  latter  we  shouldn't 
be  here." 

"  Glad  to  hear  it,"  said  the  surveyor,  dryly,  "  you  look 
like  that.  Well,  here's  the  schedule;  glance  through  it; 
then  you  can  come  back  to-morrow  and  well  sign  the 
agreement.  You'll  have  to  rustle,  though,  and  keep  the 
rail-bed  ready;  this  road's  going  right  through  to  Green 
Lake  before  the  winter." 

I  ran  my  eye  down  the  list  of  stipulations  respecting  the 
work  to  be  done  at  so  much  per  rod,  with  allowance  for 
extra  depth  scooped  out  through  the  rises  per  cubic  ton, 
saw  there  should  be  a  profit  in  it  from  what  little  I  knew, 
and  tossed  the  sheet  to  Harry,  answering: 

"  Our  time  is  precious,  and  if  my  partner  is  willing  we'll 
sign  it  now.  As  to  wThat  we  look  like,  I'll  thank  you  to 
remember  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  you." 

"  I  apologize ;  meant  it  as  a  compliment,"  said  our 
future  employer,  who  was  grimed  thick  with  sweat  and  dust, 
and  Harry  answered  lightly,  "  We  are  much  obliged  to 
you;  my  partner  is  quick  in  temper.  However,  you  know 
that  you  can't  get  teams  or  men  for  love  or  money  now 
when  harvest's  coming  on,  and  so  we're  going  to  strike  you 
for  another  two  cents  per  measure." 

"  Might  stretch  that  far,"  said  the  other  after  more 
figuring,  "  but  somehow  we'll  take  it  out  of  you.  Here, 
fill  your  distinguished  names  into  this,  and  if  you  like  to 
take  it  there's  another  lot  —  it's  hauling  in  birch  logs  for 
stump  piles  and  fencing  purposes." 

We  signed  both  papers,  and  on  leaving  the  surveyor  we 


116       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

found  a  man  in  old  blue  overalls,  whose  appearance  sug- 
gested the  Briton,  waiting  for  us  near  the  construction  train 
which  had  just  come  up  with  its  load  of  rails  and  rail-layers. 

"  Did  you  get  the  grading  contract?"  he  asked;  and, 
when  Harry  nodded,  he  continued :  "  Then  as  a  preliminary 
I'll  introduce  myself,  Ellsworthy  Johnston,' one-time  barris- 
ter, and,  as  the  surveyor  classified  me,  general  roustabout. 
Had  a  bush  ranch  in  British  Columbia  and  came  to  grief 
over  it  by  fooling  time  away  gold  prospecting.  Rode  in  and 
asked  yonder  eloquent  autocrat  for  a  contract,  but  he  didn't 
see  it.  Said,  and  he  explained  it  wasn't  flattery,  I  looked 
too  much  of  a  gentleman,  and  in  consequence  if  I  liked  I 
could  shovel  ballast  at  one  dollar  seventy-five  daily.  Now 
shoveling  ballast  grows  monotonous,  and  one  gets  a  con- 
founded back-ache  over  it,  so  if  you're  agreeable  I'll  fling 
in  a  small  sum  and  my  services  as  junior  partner." 

"  We're  not  too  rich,"  said  Harry,  "  and  we'll  talk  it 
over." 

"  Get  a  move  on  there,  Sam  Johnsing,  before  the  flies 
eat  you!  Guess  the  rails  are  growing  rusty  while  you're 
resting,"  called  somebody  in  authority,  and  with  a  smile  of 
whimsical  resignation  our  new  acquaintance  hurried  away. 

We  made  a  bargain  with  him  that  evening,  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned,  and  the  next  morning  Harry  rode 
away  to  divide  our  few  head  of  stock  among  our  neigh- 
bors and  hire  if  possible  one  or  two  among  those  whose 
crops  had  also  suffered  from  frost.  The  latter,  like  the 
devastating  hail,  performs  its  work  erratically,  wiping  out 
one  man's  grain  and  sparing  his  neighbors'.  Meanwhile 
I  found  plenty  to  do  making  arrangements  to  commence  our 
work  on  the  track. 


CHAPTER  XI 

ON  THE  RAILROAD 

TT  was  a  hot  autumn  morning  when  we  prepared  to 
commence  our  task  of  railroad  building,  the  last  forlorn 
hope  between  ourselves  and  ruin.  Harry  and  I  stood  each 
beside  our  teams,  which  were  harnessed  to  a  great  iron 
scoop  or  scraper  designed  to  tear  out  a  heavy  load  of  soil 
at  each  traverse.  This  we  would  pile  in  the  slight  hollows, 
so  that,  sinking  a  few  feet  through  the  rises  and  raised 
slightly  above  each  depression,  the  road-bed  might  run 
straight  and  level  across  the  prairie.  A  group  of  sinewy, 
dusty  men  waited  about  the  line  of  flat  cars  loaded  with 
rails  close  behind,  while  a  plume  of  black  smoke  curled 
aloft  from  the  huge  locomotive  in  a  dingy  column  against 
the  blue  of  the  sky.  This,  with  the  cluster  of  tents  and 
shanties,  was  all  that  broke  the  white  grass-land's  empty 
monotony. 

The  surveyor,  who  was  perhaps  dustier  than  any,  leaned 
against  the  engine's  buffer-frame  close  beside  me,  mopping 
his  face,  which  was  also  smeared  with  soot,  and  surveyed  us 
complacently,  for  with  our  assistants  we  formed,  as  far  as 
outward  appearances  went,  a  workmanlike  if  somewhat 
disreputable  company.  Water  was  scarce  that  season  and 
too  precious  to  waste  in  superfluous  washing,  while  we  had 
little  leisure  to  spare  on  even  much-needed  repairs  to  our 
garments.  Still,  we  were  alert,  hard  and  eager,  while  after 
the  preceding  anxiety  it  was  with  improved  spirits  that  we 
found  definite  work  before  us,  with,  what  was  better  still, 
definite  pay  at  the  end  of  it. 

117 


118      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Well,  theyVe  finished  the  line  posts ;  I  guess  you  can 
start  in,"  said  the  surveyor.  "  You  look  as  if  you  could 
keep  those  scoops  from  rusting.  Good  luck  go  with  you! 
Stir  round  and  heave  those  rails  down,  boys !  " 

Then  with  a  crack  of  whips  we  started,  and  it  was  with 
satisfaction  that  I  heard  the  trampling  of  hoofs  bite  into 
the  sod  and  the  bright  steel  edges  rip  through  the  matted 
roots.  Soft  earth  and  tangled  grasses  filled  the  iron  scoop 
behind,  the  air  vibrated  with  the  strident  clang  of  rails,  and 
the  locomotive  engineer  performed  an  inspiriting  solo  upon 
his  whistle,  while  the  rest  of  our  party  followed  to  finish  the 
wake  we  left  with  their  shovels.  Somewhat  improved  ap- 
pliances are  used  in  railroad  building  now,  but  though  it  had 
limitations  the  scraper  did  excellent  work  in  its  day.  All 
went  well  and  smoothly  for  at  least  a  month,  and  our  hearts 
grew  lighter  every  day,  while  each  time  the  big  locomotive 
came  clattering  up  we  had  another  length  of  road-bed  ready 
for  the  rails,  and  the  surveyor  commented  on  our  progress 
with  frank  approval.  He  also  did  so  to  some  purpose  in  his 
reports  to  Winnipeg,  as  subsequently  transpired,  while  occa- 
sionally, when  we  lounged  languidly  contented  under  the 
dew-damped  canvas  at  nights,  Harry  would  figure  with  the 
end  of  a  pencil  how  much  we  had  already  placed  to  our 
credit. 

"  We  are  doing  well,  Ralph,"  he  said  the  last  time  it 
happened,  with  a  smile  that  ligjhted  his  sunny  face. 
"  There's  enough  now  to  pay  off  those  people  in  Brandon, 
and  with  luck  we'll  manage  to  settle  with  the  worst  of  the 
rest  before  the  frost  comes.  It's  almost  a  pity  we  didn't 
try  the  railroad  sooner,  but " —  and  here  he  glanced  at  me 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye — "we  came  out  to  work  our  own 
land,  and  it's  your  intention  to  add  acre  to  acre  until 
Fairmead's  one  of  the  biggest  farms  in  the  Territories, 
isn't  it?" 


ON  THE  RAILROAD  119 

"  Yes,"  I  answered  soberly.  "  God  willing,  if  health  and 
strength  hold  out,"  and  in  his  own  expressive  way  Harry 
shook  hands  with  me.  Harry's  hand  harmonized  with  the 
rest  of  him,  and  hands  as  well  as  faces  are  characteristic 
of  their  owners'  temperament.  It  was  small  and  shapely, 
one  might  call  it  almost  feminine,  but  its  touch  conveyed 
the  subtle  impression  of  courage  and  nervous  energy,  while 
I  wondered  what  the  woman  who  reared  him  would  think 
if  she  saw  those  toughened  and  ingrained  fingers  now. 
Neither  were  words  needed,  for  Harry's  actions  had  each 
their  meaning,  and  that  grasp  seemed  to  say  that  in  this  I  was 
leader  and  whatever  happened  he  would  loyally  follow  me. 
Then  he  added  softly: 

"  Yes  —  with  your  reservation  —  we  will  do  it." 

Uninterrupted  good  fortune  seldom  lasts  long,  however, 
or  at  least  it  seldom  did  with  us,  and  presently  the  line 
ran  into  a  big  coulee  which  wound  through  what  we  call 
hills  on  the  prairie  —  that  is  to  say,  a  ridge  of  slightly  higher 
levels  swelling  into  billowy  rises.  In  the  Western  Dominion 
the  rivers,  instead  of  curving  round  the  obstacles  they 
encounter,  generally  go  through,  though  whether  they  find 
the  gorges  or  fret  them  out  is  beyond  me.  In  the  latter 
case,  judging  from  what  one  sees  in  British  Columbia,  they 
must  have  worked  hard  for  countless  centuries.  The  hollow 
as  usual  was  partly  filled  with  birches  and  willows,  which 
hampered  us,  for  they  must  be  cut  down  and  the  roots 
grubbed  up;  and  when  at  last  we  had  scooped  a  strip  of 
road-bed  out  of  the  slanting  side  it  seemed  as  if  disaster 
again  meant  to  overtake  us. 

Autumn  had  melted  into  Indian  summer,  but  it  wTas  still 
hot.  With  the  perspiration  dripping  from  me  one  after- 
noon, I  whirled  and  drove  the  keen  axe  into  a  silver  birch's 
side,  seldom  turning  my  eyes  from  the  shower  of  white 
chips,   because  looking  up   between   the  slender  stems   one 


120       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

could  see  the  black  smoke  of  a  thrasher  streaking  the  prairie. 
The  crops  of  the  man  who  employed  it  had  escaped  damage, 
and  as  those  of  many  had  been  spoiled  by  frost  I  knew  he 
wTould  reap  a  handsome  profit  on  every  bushel.  I  did  not 
grudge  it  him,  but  the  contrast  with  our  failure  troubled 
me.  My  throat  was  parched  and  dried  up,  for  we  had 
finished  all  the  water  they  brought  us  in  by  train,  and  no 
man  could  drink  of  the  shrunken  creek,  which  was  alkaline. 
It  flowed  down  from  one  of  those  curious  lakes  to  be  found 
on  the  Western  prairie,  where  clouds  of  biting  dust  which 
smarts  one's  eyes  and  nostrils  intolerably  rise  up  like  smoke 
from  the  white  crust  about  the  margin  of  the  waters,  whose 
color  is  a  vivid  greenish  blue. 

I  stepped  aside  a  moment  to  let  the  construction  train 
with  its  load  of  rails  roll  past,  and  stood  leaning  on  the  axe 
wiping  the  perspiration  out  of  my  eyes  until  Harry's  shout 
rang  out  warningly.  Then  through  the  strident  scream  of 
brakes  and  the  roar  of  blown-off"  steam  an  ominous  rumbling 
commenced  round  a  bend;  there  was  a  rush  of  flying  foot- 
steps, and  Harry  shouted  again.  I  ran  forward  down  the 
newly-laid  track,  and  when  I  halted  breathless,  my  first 
sensation  was  one  of  thankfulness  followed  by  dismay. 
Harry  was  struggling  to  hold  an  excited  team  not  far  away. 
It  was  evident  that  he  and  the  rest  were  safe,  but  it  was  also 
equally  plain  that  we  must  gather  our  courage  to  meet 
another  blow.  In  no  circumstances  could  much,  if  any, 
profit  have  been  made  on  that  portion  of  the  line  which 
traversed  the  coulee,  but  we  took  it  with  the  rest;  and  now 
the  road-bed  we  had  painfully  scooped  out  had  been  swept 
away  and  lay  a  chaotic  mass  of  debris,  some  sixty  yards 
below,  for,  loosened  by  the  excavation,  the  side  of  the 
ravine  had  slipped  down  bodily. 

"  I'm  glad  you  and  the  teams  are  safe,"  was  all  I  could 


ON  THE  RAILROAD  121 

find  to  say  when  Harry  met  me,  for  I  struggled  against  an 
inclination  to  do  either  of  two  things.  One  was  to  sit 
down  and  groan  despairingly,  and  the  other  to  abuse  every- 
thing on  the  Canadian  prairie. 

Harry  at  first  said  nothing.  He  was  panting  heavily, 
but  another  man  answered  for  him: 

"  I  guess  you  might  be,  and  only  for  your  partner's  grit 
the  teams  wouldn't  have  been  saved.  When  we  saw  the 
whole  blame  ravine  tumbling  in  the  only  thing  that  struck 
us  was  to  light  out  quick,  and  we  did  it  in  a  hurry,  not 
stopping  to  think.  Something  else  struck  your  partner,  too, 
a  devastatin'  load  of  dirt  coming  down  on  the  teams,  and 
he  went  back  for  them.  Cut  the  traces  of  one  scraper  — 
you  can  see  the  blame  thing  busted  in  the  bottom  there; 
then  there  was  a  roar  and  she  came  down  solid  with  a 
rush,  while  we  did  the  shouting  when  he  brought  them 
safe  at  a  gallop  out  of  the  dust." 

"  That's  a  side  issue,"  said  Harry  very  gravely,  "  and  the 
main  one  is  serious.  Ralph,  if  all  this  slope  is  going  to  slip 
down  it  means  disaster  to  us.  You  see,  after  what  was  said 
when  we  took  the  contract,  we  couldn't  well  back  out  of  it, 
even  if  we  wanted  to.  Hallo,  here's  his  majesty  the  sur- 
veyor on  his  trolley." 

With  a  clatter  of  wheels  the  light  frame  raced  down  the 
slight  incline,  and  unloaded  its  occupants  violently  when  it 
ran  into  the  back  of  the  construction  train  which  they  had 
stopped  just  in  time.  We  did  not,  however,  follow  it, 
because  we  wanted  time  to  think;  and  both  our  faces  were 
anxious  when  the  surveyor  returned. 

"  I'm  afraid  it's  a  hard  case  —  one  of  those  things  no  man 
can  figure  on  ahead  —  give  you  my  word  we  never  expected 
this,"  he  said.  "  That  bank  looked  solid  enough,  but  there's 
more  of  it  just  waiting  to  go,  and   the  whole  track  will 


122       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

have  to  be  set  back  several  yards  or  so.  Anyway,  it's  par- 
ticularly hard  on  you.  Remembering  what  I  told  you,  have 
you  settled  yet  what  you  are  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  answered  slowly.  "  We  made  the  agreement, 
and  we  mean  to  keep  it.  We'll  hire  more  men  and  teams 
if  what  we  have  won't  do.  Somehow  we've  got  to  finish  our 
bargain,  and  get  our  money  back,  and  we'll  come  to  the  end 
of  the  ravine  some  day.     Isn't  that  your  view,  Harry?  y 

"  Of  course!  "  said  Harry,  as  the  surveyor  turned  in  his 
direction.  By  this  time  we  had  fallen  into  our  respective 
parts.  When  there  was  need  of  judicious  speech  or  care  in 
matters  financial  it  was  Harry's  tact  or  calculations  that 
solved  the  difficulty,  while  when  it  came  to  a  hard  grapple 
with  natural  difficulties  I  led  the  way.  Again  the  surveyor 
glanced  from  one  to  the  other  before  he  said: 

"  There's  grit  in  both  of  you.  After  all,  what  you  think 
does  not  affect  the  question;  a  contract's  a  contract,  and  we 
hold  the  whip  hand  over  you,  but  I'm  glad  to  see  you  take  it 
that  way." 

The  surveyor,  as  we  were  to  learn,  was  a  man  of  dis- 
cernment, and  he  may  have  been  making  an  experiment, 
but  my  blood  was  up,  and  I  answered  stiffly: 

"  The  whip  hand  has  nothing  to  do  with  it.  We  will 
carry  out  our  agreement,  because  we  pledged  ourselves  to 
do  so;  if  we  hadn't,  ten  railroad  companies  would  not  make 
us,  and  we're  open  to  defy  any  man  in  the  Dominion,  direc- 
tor or  surveyor,  to  force  an  injustice  upon  us." 

The  autocrat  was  not  in  the  least  angry,  and  smiled 
dryly  as  he  said :  "  I  believe  you.  Well,  I  make  no  promises, 
but  if  you're  not  above  all  assistance  I  guess  I  might  help 
you.  You  can  lay  off  and  rest  your  teams  for  two  days 
anyway,  while  I  turn  loose  the  shovelers ;  then  you'll  want 
all  the  energy  that's  in  you." 

In   different  circumstances  we  might  have  enjoyed   that 


ON  THE  RAILROAD  123 

holiday.  As  it  was,  I  lay  still  in  the  sunshine  all  day, 
disconsolately  staring  across  the  prairie  down  the  track  that 
wTas  apparently  going  to  complete  our  discomfiture,  and 
smoking  until  my  mouth  was  blistered.  Where  Harry 
went  to  I  did  not  know.  On  the  second  evening,  however, 
our  new  partner,  who  had  been  back  to  the  main  line  for 
supplies,  came  in,  and  listened  with  apparent  unconcern 
while  we  explained  matters  to  him.  Acting  under  impulse, 
I  even  suggested  that  we  might  release  him  from  his  un- 
fortunate bargain,  but  he  laughed  as  he  answered: 

"  You're  generous,  but  it  can't  be  done.  Experiences  of 
this  kind  are  not  new  to  me,  and  I'm  a  Jonah,  as  I  warned 
you.  Still,  when  bad  luck  follows  one  everywhere  —  floods 
on  the  Fraser,  cattle-sickness,  snow  coming  heavy  just  when 
one  is  finding  signs  of  gold  —  you  know  there's  no  earthly 
use  running  away  from  it,  and  it's  wisest  to  laugh  at 
fortune  and  stay  right  where  you  are.  Dare  say  we'll 
come  out  on  the  right  side  yet;  and  if  we  don't,  in  fifty 
years  it  won't  make  much  difference.  Now  try  to  look  less 
like  guests  at  a  funeral,  and  talk  of  something  cheerful." 

I  made  some  moody  answer  and  envied  him  his  way  of 
taking  things,  while  Harry  tried  to  smile,  and  Johnston, 
lifting  down  a  banjo,  commenced  a  plantation  ditty,  which 
he  sang  with  so  much  spirit  that  presently  he  had  most  of 
the  shovel  gang  for  an  appreciative  audience.  Then  there 
were  roars  of  laughter  when  he  stood  in  the  entrance  of  the 
tent  and,  with  the  utmost  solemnity,  made  them  a  ridiculous 
speech.  After  this  they  went  away  to  their  canvas  dwell- 
ings, and  I  knew  that  Ellsworthy  Johnston  was  one  of 
those  born  soldiers  of  fortune  who  extract  the  utmost  bright- 
ness from  an  arduous  life,  and,  meeting  each  reverse  with 
a  smiling  face,  cheerfully  bear  their  .ill-rewarded  share  in 
the  development  of  Greater  Britain  beyond  the  seas.  One 
may  find  a  good  many  of  them  on  the  Western  prairie. 


124      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

We  recommenced  work  the  next  morning,  and,  under  the 
delicious  still  coolness  of  the  Indian  summer,  we  increased 
the  strain  on  nerve  and  muscle  and  cut  down  the  grocery 
bill,  though  I  insisted  on  feeding  the  horses  even  better 
than  before.  It  is  never  economy  to  stint  one's  working 
cattle,  especially  when  one  demands  the  utmost  from  them, 
besides  being  a  procedure  which  is  distasteful  to  any  merciful 
man.  However,  though  we  had  to  hire  more  horses,  won- 
dering how  we  would  ever  pay  for  them  when  the  contract 
was  finished,  the  track  crept  on  along  the  treacherous 
slope,  where  we  scooped  out  a  double  width  as  basis, 
winding  among  the  birches  in  glistening,  sinuous  curves, 
while  the  end  of  the  valley  grew  nearer  every  day.  Again 
Harry  and  I  lapsed  into  the  excitement  of  a  race  against 
adversity,  because  unless  we  were  well  out  on  the  open 
prairie  before  winter  bound  the  sod  into  the  likeness  of 
concrete  there  could  be  no  hope  of  even  partly  recouping  our 
loss.  Even  Johnston  seemed  infected  with  our  spirit;  but 
while  we  generally  worked  in  dogged  silence,  he  had  ever 
a  jest  on  his  lips. 

One  evening  —  and  the  days  were  shortening  all  too 
rapidly  —  when  I  sat  tired  and  dejected  on  an  empty  pro- 
vision case,  a  rail-layer  brought  in  several  letters,  and, 
as  usual,  they  were  all  for  me.  Harry  stood  bare-armed, 
with  the  dust  still  thick  upon  him,  just  outside  the  entrance 
of  the  tent,  holding  a  spider  over  our  little  stove,  and 
glanced  half  regretfully  toward  the  budget.  No  one  ever 
seemed  to  write  to  Harry.  The  first  was  from  Jasper.  He 
had  visited  Brandon  and  Winnipeg  on  business,  and  wrote 
in  his  usual  off-hand  style. 

"  I've  been  in  to  see  those  dealers,  taking  my  best  broker 
along,  to  convince  them  that  we  only  raised  solid  men  in  this 
section,"  it  ran.  "  Thought  I'd  enlighten  them  about  you, 
and  the  broker  laid  himself  out  to  back  me.     He  gets  all 


ON  THE  RAILROAD  125 

my  business  —  see?  —  while  you  can't  beat  a  Winnipeg 
broker  at  real  tall  talking.  I  should  say  we  impressed  them 
considerably ;  or  perhaps  it  was  the  big  cigars  and  the  spread 
at  the  hotel.  Said  they'd  sense  enough  to  know  a  straight 
man  when  they  saw  him,  and  they'd  give  you  plenty  time 
to  pay  in.  So  all  you've  got  to  do  is  to  sail  right  on  with 
the  track-grading.  The  boys  were  saying  down  to  Elktail 
that  Fletcher  and  his  father-in-law  don't  get  on,  and  there's 
going  to  be  trouble  there  presently.  I  think  the  old  man 
started  in  to  reform  him,  and  Fletcher  don't  like  unlimited 
reform." 

"  Just  like  Jasper,"  said  Harry.  "  A  woman's  heart,  and 
the  strength  of  three  ordinary  men.  Still,  when  Jasper 
starts  in  with  a  rush  no  man  can  say  where  he'll  finish,  and 
we  may  hear  next  that  he  has  been  all  round  Winnipeg 
on  our  account  borrowing  money." 

Then  the  new  partner,  who  was  splitting  firewood  close 
by,  laid  down  his  axe  as  he  said :  "  Hope  you'll  introduce  me 
to  Jasper  some  day.  From  what  you  say,  he  is  a  man  worth 
knowing." 

There  were  two  more  letters,  and  the  next  —  my  fingers 
trembled  as  I  opened  it  —  was  from  Grace.  It  was  dated 
from  Starcross  House,  in  Lancashire,  and  written  in  frank 
friendliness,  expressing  regret  for  our  misfortune,  which,  it 
seemed,  she  had  heard  about,  and  ending:  "  But  by  this  time 
you  will  have  learned  that  there  are  ups  and  downs  in  every 
country,  and  I  know  you  both  have  the  courage  to  face 
the  latter.  So  go  on  with  a  stout  heart,  believing  that  I  and 
all  your  other  friends  look  for  your  ultimate  success."  To 
this  there  was  a  postscript :  "  I  met  your  cousin,  Miss 
Lorimer,  the  other  day,  and  was  sorry  to  find  her  very  pale 
and  thin.  She  had  just  recovered  from  a  serious  illness,  and 
seemed  troubled  when  I  told  her  how  you  had  lost  your 
harvest." 


126       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I  placed  the  thin  sheets  reverently  in  an  inside  pocket, 
and  read  them  afterward  over  and  over  again,  because  I 
might  not  answer  them.  She  had  written  out  of  kindly 
sympathy  when  the  news  of  our  trouble  first  reached  her, 
and  that  was  all;  while  I  felt  I  could  not  write  a  mere 
formal  note  of  thanks  — and  more  than  this  was  out  of  the 
question  now.  Nevertheless,  I  was  thankful  for  her  good 
wishes,  and  then  I  stood  silent  under  the  starlight,  staring 
down  the  misty  coulee  and  thinking  of  Cousin  Alice  as 
mechanically  I  stripped  the  envelope  from  the  next  letter. 
She  had  always  been  ailing,  even  in  the  days  when  we 
were  almost  as  brother  and  sister;  and  now  I  longed  that  I 
might  comfort  her  as  in  my  periodical  fits  of  restlessness  she 
used  to  soothe  me.  That,  however,  was  impossible,  for  my 
cousin  was  part  of  the  sheltered  life  I  had  left  behind  across 
the  sea,  and  I  was  in  Western  Canada  with  a  very  uncertain 
future  before  me. 

Then,  moving  back  into  the  light  of  the  lamp,  I  read 
the  last  letter.  With  a  gasp  of  astonishment,  I  handed  it 
to  Harry,  saying:  "I  can  make  nothing  of  this.  Who  in 
the  wide  world  can  have  sent  the  money?  " 

He  laid  down  the  spider,  and,  bending  until  the  glow 
from  the  tent  door  fell  on  the  paper,  read: 

"  Mr,  Ralph  Lorimer,  of  Fairmead. 

Sir, — We  have  received  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  from  a  correspondent  wThose  identity  we  are  not  at 
liberty  to  reveal,  to  place  to  your  credit.  If  you  prefer, 
you  may  regard  this  amount  as  an  unsecured  loan  and  repay 
it  with  current  interest  on  opportunity.  Otherwise  it  is 
unconditionally  at  your  disposal,  and  we  will  have  pleasure 
in  honoring  your  drafts  to  that  extent. 


Agent  for  the  Bank  of  Montreal' 


ON  THE  RAILROAD  127 

"  You  are  a  lucky  man/'  said  Harry.  "  What  will  you 
do  with  it?"     And  I  answered  with  some  hesitation: 

"  I  don't  exactly  know.  Tell  them  to  send  it  back, 
most  likely.  We  can  both  take  care  of  ourselves  with- 
out depending  on  other  people's  charity  like  remittance 
men.  And  what  right  has  any  unknown  person  to  send 
money  to  me?  My  friends  in  England  have  apparently 
cast  me  off  utterly,  and  in  no  case  would  I  accept  a  favor 
from  them.     Still,  I  should  like  to  discover  who  sent  it." 

"  It's  some  one  who  knows  your  little  —  we'll  say  pecu- 
liarities," answered  Harry  dryly.  "  I  sometimes  wonder, 
Ralph,  what  makes  you  so  confoundedly  proud  of  yourself. 
Can't  you  take  it  in  the  spirit  it's  evidently  meant,  and  be 
thankful?  You  are  not  overburdened  with  worldly  riches 
at  present,  anyway." 

To  this  I  made  no  answer.  We  needed  money  badly 
enough  —  that  at  least  was  certain ;  and  after  our  frugal 
repast  I  marched  up  and  down  the  line,  thinking  it  over, 
and  then,  chiefly  for  Harry's  sake,  I  decided  to  accept  the 
sum  as  a  loan.  It  would  materially  help  to  lighten  that 
other  crushing  load  of  debt;  and  though  growing  more  and 
more  puzzled,  I  felt,  as  Harry  did,  there  was  yet  a  great 
kindness  behind  it. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE    UNEXPECTED 

/"\N  the  first  opportunity  we  paid  off  the  most  pressing 
of  our  creditors,  and  continued  our  labor  with  greater 
cheerfulness,  working  double  tides  when  there  was  moon- 
light, scooping  out  the  line  along  the  sides  of  the  coulee, 
though  we  lost  more  than  I  cared  to  calculate  on  every  yard 
of  it.  As  we  did  so  the  days  grew  shorter  and  shorter, 
and  often  in  the  mornings  there  was  a  keen  frost  in  the  air. 
It  was  a  losing  game,  but  we  had  given  our  bond  and 
played  it  out  stubbornly,  while  Johnston,  who  worked  as 
hard  as  either  now,  cheered  us  with  witty  anecdote  and 
quaint  philosophy  after  each  especially  disappointing  day. 
Then  one  evening  when  the  surveyor  sat  with  us,  as  he 
did  occasionally,  a  man  approached  the  tent. 

"  There's  a  curious  critter  hunting  round  for  you,"  he 
said,  "  looks  most  like  a  low-down  played-out  Britisher. 
He's  wanting  Contractor  Lorimer,  and  won't  lie  down  until 
he  finds  him." 

"Adam  Lee  of  Stoney  Clough  for  a  dollar;  I've  been 
expecting  him,"  said  Harry,  with  a  low  whistle.  "  You 
needn't  go,  surveyor.  Have  you  been  fascinating  any  more 
young  damsels,  Ralph?  Larry,  will  you  be  kind  enough 
to  show  his  reverence  in." 

The  man  grinned  as  he  went  out,  and  presently  Lee 
stood  before  us.  He  looked  a  little  stronger  than  when  I 
last  saw  him,  but  there  was  trouble  in  his  face,  and,  when 
I  explained  to  the  rest  who  he  was,  he  sat  down  and  com- 

128 


THE  UNEXPECTED  129 

menced  his  story.  Life  is  generally  hard  to  such  as  he,  and 
living  close  packed  together  in  the  hive  of  a  swarming  town, 
with  their  few  joys  and  many  sorrows  open  for  every  eye 
to  see,  they  lose  the  grace  of  reticence. 

"  I  set  up  a  stitching  shop  in  a  shed  against  Tom 
Fletcher's  house,"  he  said.  "  There  were  none  of  my  kin 
left  in  the  wide  world  but  Minnie,  and,  if  I  wasn't  a  burden, 
I  wanted  to  live  near  her.  They  brought  me  saddles  and 
harness  to  sew,  and  I  earned  a  little,  but  I  was  main  anxious 
for  Thomas  Fletcher.  The  lust  of  strong  drink  was  in  him, 
and  he  had  sinful  fits  of  temper,  raging  like  one  demented 
when  I  told  him  to  cast  out  the  devil.  '  I'll  cast  out  thee 
an'  thy  preaching  into  perdition,'  he  said.  Then  Minnie 
must  tell  me  if  I  was  too  good  for  her  husband,  and  only 
making  trouble,  they  did  not  want  me  there,  and  I  saw  that 
sometimes  Tom  Fletcher  scowled  with  angry  eyes  at  her 
after  I  had  spoken  to  him  faithfully.  So,  because  it  is  an  ill 
thing  to  cause  strife  between  man  and  wife,  I  left  my 
daughter  —  and  I  had  come  half  across  the  world  to  find 
her.  They  told  me  there  were  lots  of  men  and  horses 
working  on  the  new  railway,  and  I  wondered  if  there  was 
anything  I  could  do  that  would  keep  me.  They  said  Ralph 
Lorimer  was  a  big  contractor  —  an'  there  was  doubt  between 
us,  but  I  have  forgiven  thee." 

"  Very  kind  of  you,  I'm  sure!"  said  Harry.  "The 
question  is,  however,  what  can  you  do?"  and  the  old  man 
answered  eagerly: 

"  Anything,  if  it's  saddles  or  harness  or  mending  shoes. 
I  can  cut  things  in  hardwood  and  sharpen  saws  too,  and 
I'll  work  for  a  trial  for  nothing  but  my  keep." 

I  looked  down  at  him  compassionately,  for  he  was  old 
and  broken  in  spirit,  and  would  plainly  starve  if  turned 
adrift  on  the  prairie,  while  as  I  did  so  the  surveyor  broke 
in: 


130       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST, 

"  You  had  better  take  him !  " 

Then,  deciding  that  perhaps  he  could  help  us  in  some 
small  degree,  and  that  we  might  spare  a  few  dollars  to  give 
him,  even  ii  he  only  kept  us  in  whole  shoes,  I  answered: 
11  Well,  well  see  what  you  can  do,  and  you  can  camp  in 
the  other  tent.  There's  a  set  of  worn-out  harness  for  a 
beginning  to-morrow;  and  if  you  go  right  across  you'll 
just  be  in  time  for  supper." 

He  thanked  us  wTith  effusion,  and  when  he  went  out 
Harry  said  lightly:  "  We  have  made  a  very  bad  bargain,  of 
course,  but  I  dare  say  we  can  manage  to  raise  all  he  will  cost 
us.  Naturally,  I  feel  inclined  to  do  something  for  the  old 
man,  but  that  confounded  Fletcher  exasperates  me.  His 
shadow  has  been  over  you  ever  since  you  started  in  this 
country,  and,  I  suppose  it's  foolish,  but  I  feel  that  some  day 
he'll  do  you  a  greater  injury.  However,  at  present  I  almost 
sympathize  with  his  action.  It  isn't  cheerful  to  have  a 
future  state  of  brimstone  held  up  before  one  continually." 

"  When  I  said  you  had  better  take  him,  I  didn't  mean 
at  your  own  expense,"  interposed  the  surveyor,  "  but  that 
in  the  circumstances  it  would  come  better  so.  I  guess 
we'll  squeeze  him  somehow  on  to  the  pay-roll  of  the  Com- 
pany. Heard  all  about  the  whole  thing  from  some  one. 
Who?  —  oh,  General  Jackson,  how  should  I  remember? 
Kind  of  religio-political  crank,  isn't  he?  Well,  I've  seen 
some  inventive  geniuses  among  the  species,  and  while  we're 
driving  straight  ahead  we  can  find  use  for  a  man  if  he's 
honest  and  handy  finicking  round  the  chores.  Still,  that 
has  nothing  to  do  with  what  I'm  coming  to.  We  have 
room  for  straight  live  men  on  this  road,  and  I've  been  watch- 
ing you  two.  Guess  you've  been  losing  heavy,  and  you 
stuck  right  down  to  it.  Now,  this  branch  is  going  to  be 
froze  up  presently,  and  they've  sent  for  me  to  finish  a  mining 
loop  among  the  mountains  of  British  Columbia;  when  some 


THE  UNEXPECTED  131 

one  else  has  fooled  a  tough  job  they  generally  do.  They 
listen  at  headquarters  when  I  get  up  to  talk,  and  the  ques- 
tion is,  will  you  bring  along  your  outfit  and  haul  rocks  and 
lumber  in  the  ranges  for  me?  This  time  we'll  try  to  make 
the  deal  a  better  one  for  you.  We'll  square  up  and  pay  off 
on  what  you've  done  so  far;  it  will  cut  the  loss,  because 
there's  more  of  the  coulee,  and  there'll  be  hard  frost  before 
you're  out  en  the  prairie.  Now,  I've  been  talking  straight 
—  what  have  you  to  say?  " 

I  looked  around  at  the  others.  Harry  beamed  approval, 
Johnston  nodded  indifferently,  and  I  felt  a  thrill  of  satis- 
faction as  I  turned  to  the  railroad  autocrat. 

"  We  will  come,"  I  said  simply. 

"  That's  good,"  was  the  laconic  answer.  "  Don't  think 
you'll  regret  it,"  and  with  a  nod  to  each  of  us  the  man  who 
in  a  few  moments  had  made  a  great  change  in  our  destiny 
was  gone. 

"  On  the  up-grade  now !  "  said  Johnston,  "  but  don't  lose 
your  heads.  The  great  man  paid  you  a  tremendous  com- 
pliment, Ralph,  and  that  kind  of  thing  isn't  usual  with  him ; 
but  take  it  coolly.  More  people  get  badly  busted,  as  they 
say  in  this  benighted  country,  by  sudden  success  than  by 
hard  luck!" 

It  was  good  to  lounge  in  the  tent  door  that  evening,  and 
remember  that  there  would  be  no  more  dreary  awakenings 
to  a  day  of  profitless  labor;  but  perhaps  it  was  the  cool 
night  wind  and  the  frosty  glitter  of  the  stars  that  helped  to 
check  the  rush  of  hot,  hopeful  fancies  through  my  brain, 
I  had  learned  already  to  distrust  any  untested  offer  of 
prosperity. 

For  another  week  nothing  of  moment  happened,  and  then 
we  spent  an  hour  one  morning  with  the  surveyor  and  a 
gray-haired  gentleman  from  Winnipeg.  He  differed  from 
the    former   in   many   ways,    and    spoke   with   a   deliberate 


132       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

urbanity,  but  I  felt  that  he  also  spoke  with  authority  and 
was  quietly  taking  stock  of  us.  We  signed  several  papers, 
a  receipt  among  them,  and  it  was  only  then  that  I  realized 
what  that  unfortunate  coulee  had  cost  us,  while,  when  at 
last  we  went  out,  the  surveyor  said: 

"  You  have  made  a  good  impression,  and  that  man's 
favorable  opinion  may  mean  great  things  to  you.  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  you  cashed  a  good  many  big  pay  drafts  before 
we  have  finished  with  you.', 

"  I  hope  so,"  I  answered  grimly.  "  At  present  we  are 
rather  poorer  than  when  we  commenced  the  work,  and 
whomever  the  new  railroad  benefits  it  has  done  only  harm  to 
us.  That,  however,  is  in  no  way  your  fault,  and  having 
started  we're  going  on  to  see  the  end  of  it." 

"  Good  man !  "  said  the  surveyor  with  a  significant  smile. 
"  I  shouldn't  be  too  previous.  You  have  six  days  to 
straighten  up  your  business ;  "  and  after  a  brief  conference 
with  Harry  I  departed  for  Fairmead  and  Winnipeg. 

Our  few  cattle  were  thriving  among  the  herds  of  our 
neighbors,  to  whom  we  made  over  our  stock  of  prairie 
hay.  The  homestead  would  doubtless  take  care  of  itself 
until  we  were  ready  to  return  there,  as  prairie  homesteads 
often  have  to  do;  while,  whether  it  was  owing  to  Jasper's 
eloquence  or  to  other  causes,  I  found  our  remaining  creditors 
both  reasonable  and  willing  to  meet  us  as  far  as  they  could. 
So  I  came  back  with  a  satisfactory  report,  and  the  same 
evening  we  gathered  those  who  worked  for  us  about  the 
tent,  and  when  we  had  handed  each  a  roll  of  dollar  bills 
Harry  laid  the  position  before  them. 

"  We  sunk  all  that  was  left  in  this  contract,"  he  said, 
"  and  now  when  we  are  transferred  to  British  Columbia 
we  set  out  almost  empty-handed,  with  the  wrong  kind  of 
balance.  It  seems  only  fair  I  should  tell  you  this  frankly. 
If  you   decide   to  come  with  us  we  will,   if  all   goes  well, 


THE  UNEXPECTED  133 

pay  at  present  rates  for  the  services  of  men  and  teams. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  there  is  any  unforeseen  difficulty  we 
may  have  nothing  to  pay  with,  and  if  any  one  wishes  to  go 
back  to  his  holding  I  should  only  say  he's  sensible.  We, 
however,  shall  hold  on  as  long  as  we  have  a  dollar  left." 

"  It's  a  toss-up,"  added  Johnston.  "  You  take  your 
chances,  and  get  what  you  can,  facing  the  music  pleasantly 
like  the  rest  of  us  if  you  get  nothing,  which  seems  quite 
probable.  Now  don't  jump  over  the  edge  of  a  ravine  like 
the  giddy  antelope,  but  put  your  heads  together  and  think 
about  it." 

There  was  a  laugh  from  one  of  the  men,  who  conferred 
apart,  and  another  said :  "  We're  coming  along.  There's  no 
work  for  men  or  horses  here  in  winter,  and  we've  neither 
money  nor  credit  to  sow  in  spring.  Besides,  we've  taken 
your  money,  you  have  treated  us  fairly,  and  it  strikes  us 
as  mean  to  back  down  on  you  now.  So  we're  open  to 
take  the  chances,  and  all  we  ask  is  that  the  chances  should 
figure  either  way.  If  you're  cleaned  out,  we  get  nothing; 
if  you  win  we  want  to  come  in.  No;  we've  no  use  for  a 
sliding  scale  to  fight  each  other  on,  and  I  guess  we'll  take 
Contractor  Lorimer's  word  he'll  do  the  square  thing." 

"  I  give  it,"   I  said  simply. 

"We  thank  you;  "  and  when  they  went  away  I  felt  the 
weight  of  a  double  responsibility. 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  your  leadership  of  the  hard-up 
company,"  said  Johnston  lightly.  "  This  is  the  kind  of 
thing  that  appeals  to  me  —  nothing  to  lose  and  all  to  win, 
and  determined  men  who  can  do  anything  with  axe  and 
saw  and  horseflesh  to  back  one.  So  it's  loose  guy,  up  peg, 
on  saddle,  and  see  what  future  waits  us  in  the  garden  of  the 
Pacific  slope  —  in  mid-winter." 

It  was  seven  days  later,  and  many  things  had  been  done, 
when  with  our  working  beasts  and   few  other  possessions 


184       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

lurching  before  us  in  a  couple  of  cattle-cars,  we  went  clat- 
tering through  the  Rockies  at  the  tail  of  a  big  freight  train. 
It  was  just  breaking  day,  and  Harry  leaned  beside  me  over 
the  platform  rails  of  a  car  hooked  on  for  our  accommodation, 
while  Lee  sat  on  the  step  close  by  wrapped  in  an  old  skin 
coat  Harry  had  given  him.  A  shrill  whistle  came  ringing 
out  of  the  stirred-up  dust  ahead,  then  the  roar  of  wheels 
grew  louder,  rolling  back  repeated  and  magnified  from  the 
rocks  above,  while  half-seen  through  the  mist  that  rose 
from  a  river  spectral  pines  reeled  by,  and  an  icy  blast 
lashed  my  cheeks  like  a  whip  as,  with  throttle  wide  open 
and  the  long  cars  bouncing  behind,  the  great  mountain 
locomotive  thundered  down  a  declivity. 

"  Steve's  letting  her  go,"  said  the  surveyor,  who  came  out 
from  the  car.  "  Got  to  rush  her  through  for  the  side-track 
ahead  of  the  west-bound  mail.  Say,  the  light  is  growing; 
stay  just  where  you  are,  for  presently  there'll  be  unrolled 
the  most  gorgeous  panorama  that  ever  delighted  a  sinful 
mortal's  eye,  and  you'll  see  the  first  of  what  some  day  is 
going  to  be  of  all  lands  on  this  wide  green  earth  the  greatest 
country." 

I  looked  up,  and  already  the  mist  was  rolling  back  like 
a  curtain  from  the  great  slopes  of  rock  above,  sliding  in 
smoky  wreaths  across  the  climbing  pines,  while  as  the 
brightness  increased  we  could  see  the  torrent,  whose  voice 
now  almost  drowned  the  clash  of  couplings  and  the  clamor 
of  wheels,  frothing  green  and  white-streaked  among  mighty 
boulders  in  the  gorge  below.  Then  as  we  swung  giddily 
over  a  gossamer-like  timber  bridge,  the  walls  of  quartz 
and  blue  grit  fell  back  on  either  hand;  and,  for  the  first 
time,  I  gazed  in  rapt  silence  upon  the  cold  unsullied  white- 
ness of  eternal  snow,  undefiled  from  the  beginning  by  any 
foot  of  man.  It  stretched  in  a  glimmering  saw-edge  high 
above  us  athwart  the  brightening  east,  and,  below,  smooth- 


THE  UNEXPECTED  135 

scarped  slopes  of  rock  polished  to  a  s^ely  uister tyf  -endless 
ages  of  grinding  ice,  slid  down*  two,  or  U'\K  ,may  haye,  been 
four,  thousand  feet,  to  the  stately  pii\e$toi\  the  Jiillii^eg  &efow. 

There  were  peaks  like  castles,  spires  like  the  fretted 
stonework  of  Indian  minarets,  wrought  by  the  hand  of 
nature  out  of  an  awful  cold  purity,  and  mountains  which 
resembled  nothing  I  had  ever  seen  or  dreamed  of,  banded 
white  with  broken  edges  of  green  by  winding  glaciers; 
while  sombered  forests,  every  trunk  in  which  the  surveyor 
said  exceeded  two  hundred  feet  in  height,  were  wrapped 
about  their  knees.  It  was  a  scene  of  plutonic  grandeur, 
weirdly  impressive  under  the  first  of  the  light,  with  a  stamp 
upon  it  of  unearthly  glory,  and  we  drew  in  our  breath 
when  a  great  peak  behind  us  glowed  for  a  moment  rosy 
red  and  then  faded  into  saffron,  just  before  a  long  shaft 
of  radiance  turned  the  whiteness  on  its  shoulders  into 
incandescence. 

"What  do  you  think  of  that,  Lee?"  Harry  asked. 

The  old  man,  staring  about  him  with  a  great  wonder  in 
his  eyes,  answered,  with  half-coherent  solemnity:  "It's  the 
Almighty's  handiwork  made  manifest;"  and  as  we  swept 
across  a  trestle  and  the  trembling  timber  flung  back  the 
vibratory  din,  I  caught  the  disjointed  phrases,  "  The  framing 
of  the  everlastin'  hills;  a  sign  an'  a  token  while  the  earth 
shall  last  —  an'  there  are  many  who  will  not  see  it." 

"  Just  so,"  said  the  surveyor,  smiling  across  at  me. 
"  Now,  I'm  a  mechanic,  and  look  at  it  in  a  practical  way. 
To  me  it's  a  tremendous  display  of  power,  which  is  irre- 
sistible, even  though  it  works  mighty  slowly.  Sun,  wind, 
and  frost,  all  doing  their  share  in  rubbing  out  broad  valleys 
and  wearing  down  the  hills,  and,  with  the  debris,  the  rivers 
are  spreading  new  lands  for  wheat  and  fruit  west  into  the 
sea.  *  Wild  nature  run  riot,  chaotic  desolation !  '  it  says 
in  the  guide.     No,  sir;  this  is  a  great  scheme,  and  I  guess 


136      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

there's  neither  waste  nor  riot.  Well,  that  is  not  our  busi- 
ness; its  our  part  to  make  a  way  to  take  out  ore  and 
produce,  and  bring  in  men  —  this  is  going  to  be  an  almighty 
great  country.  Timber  for  half  the  world,  gold  and  silver, 
iron,  lead,  coal,  and  copper,  rivers  to  give  you  power  for 
nothing  wherever  you  like  to  tap  one  with  a  dynamo,  and  a 
coast  that's  punctuated  with  ready-made  harbors!  All  we 
want  is  men  and  railroads,  and  we  mean  to  get  them.  I 
figure  that  if  sometime  our  children  —  I'm  thankful  I've 
got  none  —  move  the  greatest  Empire's  center  West,  they'll 
leave  Montreal  and  Ottowa  rusting,  and  locate  it  here  be- 
tween the  Rockies  and  the  sea.  But  I  guess  I'm  talking 
nonsense,  and  there's  a  little  in  the  flask  —  here's  to  the 
New  Westminster,  and  blank  all  annexationists !  " 

Harry  nodded  as  he  passed  the  flask  on  to  me,  while  Lee 
groaned  deprecatingly,  and  then,  brushing  the  gray  hair 
back  from  his  forehead  with  thin  crooked  fingers,  said: 
"  An'  by  then  there'll  be  no  more  cold  homes  and  hunger 
for  the  poor  in  England.  It's  coming,  the  time  we've  been 
waiting,  starving,  and  some  of  us  praying  for  so  long,  an* 
if  they  get  their  own  by  law,  or  take  it  tramplin'  through 
the  blood  of  the  oppressor,  they'll  live  and  speak  free 
Englishmen,  spread  out  on  all  the  good  lands  the  Almighty 
intended  for  them." 

I  did  not  answer,  though  Harry  said  aside  that  he  did 
not  know  the  whole  earth  was  made  for  Englishmen.  There 
was  occasionally  much  in  what  Lee  said  that  commanded 
sympathy,  but  he  had  a  habit  of  relapsing  into  vague 
prophetic  utterance,  which  was  perhaps  acquired  when  he 
ran  the  Stoney  Clough  chapel.  Still,  as  hour  by  hour  we 
went  clattering  through  solemn  forests  almost  untouched  by 
the  axe,  or  rending  apart  the  silence  that  hung  over  great 
lonely  lakes,  and  past  wide  rivers,  while  the  wThole  air 
was  filled  with  the  fragrance  of  pines  and  cedars,  I  won- 


THE  UNEXPECTED  137 

dered  whether  either  his  or  the  surveyor's  forecast  would 
come  true,  and  decided  if  that  were  so  England  would  have 
cause  to  be  proud  of  this  rich  country.  For  the  rest,  Harry 
and  I  never  found  our  interest  slacken,  and  looked  on  in 
silence  as  that  most  gorgeous  panorama  of  snow-peak,  forest, 
and  glacier  unwound  itself  league  after  league  before  us, 
until  at  last  amid  a  grinding  of  brakes  the  long  freight 
train  ran  onto  a  side  track.  She  was  only  just  in  time, 
for  with  the  ballast  trembling  beneath,  and  red  cinders 
flying  from  the  funnel  of  the  mammoth  mountain  engine 
ahead,  the  Atlantic  mail  went  by.  Then,  as  we  stepped 
down  on  the  track  the  same  thought  was  evidently  upper- 
most in  each  of  us,  for  Harry  said : 

"  Ralph,  this  land  approaches  one's  wildest  fancies  of  a 
terrestrial  paradise,  and  if  in  spite  of  our  efforts  we  fail  at 
Fairmead  it's  comforting  to  think  we  can  always  bring  up 
here.  If  I  had  the  choice  I'd  like  to  be  buried  in  the  heart 
of  those  forests.     What  do  you  say,  Johnston?  " 

Johnston  smiled  a  little,  but  his  tone  was  not  the  usual 
one  as  he  answered :  "  I  think  I  shall.  You'll  say  it  sounds 
like  old  woman's  talk,  but  I  fancy  I'll  never  recross  those 
Rockies.  Anyway,  it  won't  worry  the  rest  of  humanity 
very  much  if  I  don't,  and  I  dare  say  we'll  get  some  small 
excitement  track-grading  in  the  meantime.  This  country 
doesn't  lay  itself  out  to  favor  railroad  building,  especially 
in  winter." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

ADVOCATES   OF   TEMPERANCE 

TT  was  a  month  later,  and  we  had  settled  down  to  our 
new  task,  when  Lee,  who  had  managed  to  make  himself 
generally  useful,  took  a  wholly  unexpected  step.  Our  camp 
stood  beside  the  partly  completed  track,  which  after  climbing 
through  the  passes  wound  along  the  edge  of  a  precipice  into 
a  bowl-shaped  hollow  among  the  mountains.  High  above 
it  on  the  one  hand  the  hillsides  sloped  up  toward  the  snow, 
which  now  crept  lower  to  meet  them  every  day.  It  was 
strewn  with  massy  boulders  and  bare  outcrops  of  rock,  while 
the  pines  which  managed  to  find  a  foothold  here  and  there 
glittered  with  frost  crystals  every  morning.  Below,  a  wide 
blue  lake  filled  half  the  hollow,  and  shingled  roofs  peeped 
out  among  the  cedars  that  spread  their  rigid  branches  over 
its  placid  waters,  while  the  roar  of  a  frothing  torrent  rose 
hoarsely  from  the  forest  behind.  Beyond  this,  and  walled 
off  by  stupendous  mountains  from  the  outer  world,  lay  an 
auriferous  region,  and  a  wooden  town  whose  inhabitants 
had  long  struggled  for  an  existence,  hampered  by  the  cost  of 
bringing  in  stores  and  machinery  by  pack-horse  train. 

Railroad-building  in  such  a  land  is  an  arduous  task, 
needing  a  bold  conception  and  a  reckless  execution,  while 
no  line  is  ever  driven  that  is  not  partly  paid  for  with  the 
adventurous  legion's  blood.  Our  share,  however,  was  one  of 
the  safest,  for  it  consisted  in  hewing  logs  out  of  the  forest 
for  framing  the  spidery  trestles  and  snow-sheds,  hauling 
sawn   lumber   into    position,    and    doing   general    teamster's 

138 


ADVOCATES  OF  TEMPERANCE         139 

work.  Risks  there  were  of  course  —  the  rush  of  a  charging 
boulder,  or  a  sudden  descent  of  shale,  while  occasionally  a 
partly  grubbed  out  trunk  came  thundering  down  before  it 
was  expected  to.  Comparatively  few  trained  mechanics 
could  be  found  among  all  the  men  about  us,  and,  as  usual, 
the  hardest  part  of  the  struggle  devolved  upon  the  reckless 
free-lances  —  sailor-men  deserters,  unfortunate  prospectors, 
forest  ranchers  whose  possessions  were  mortgaged  to  the  hilt, 
and  others  of  the  kind,  who  are  always  to  the  front  when 
at  the  risk  of  life  and  limb  a  new  way  for  civilization  is 
hewn  through  the  forests  of  the  Pacific  Slope. 

One  morning,  when  I  rested  my  team  a  few  moments, 
talking  to  Harry  and  the  surveyor  after  hauling  a  heavy  log, 
Johnston  came  up  chuckling,  with  a  strip  of  cedar  bark  on 
which  a  notice  was  written. 

"  We  have  an  ardent  reformer  among  our  ranks,  and, 
everything  considered,  I  admire  his  pluck,"  he  said.  "  You'll 
notice  you're  all  invited  if  you  listen  to  this  — '  A  temper- 
ance meeting  will  be  held  outside  the  Magnolia  saloon  to- 
night, when  Fanny  Marvin  and  Adam  Lee  will  turn  the 
flash-light  upon  the  evils  of  drink  and  gamblin\  Every 
sensible  man  is  requested  to  step  along.'  " 

"  I  thought  there  was  something  brewing,"  said  Harry. 
"  Lee  has  lately  foregathered  with  certain  sober-faced  indi- 
viduals from  Ontario,  and  they've  been  plotting  mysteriously. 
Well,  I  suppose  there  will  be  trouble  over  it;  but  who  is 
this  Marvin?" 

"  She's  a  rising  religious  reformer  who  has  taken  several 
towns  on  Puget  Sound  by  storm,"  said  the  surveyor,  "  and  it 
has  cost  somebody  considerable  to  bring  her  here.  That 
protege  of  yours  is  clearly  a  crank,  but  he's  also  more  of  a 
man  than  he  looks,  and,  if  it  can  be  done  unofficially,  I'm 
inclined  to  back  him.  No,  I'm  not  a  teetotaler,  and  as  a  rule 
we're   a  sober   people   in   Western   Canada,   but   they're   a 


140       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

tolerably  hard  crowd  down  at  Cedar,  and  if  once  the  man 
who  runs  the  Magnolia  takes  hold  with  his  tables  we'll  have 
chaos  in  this  camp.  I'm  not  prejudiced,  but  if  they  must 
have  excitement  I'd  sooner  see  the  boys  whooping  round  a 
temperance  meeting  than  a  gaming  bank." 

"Are  you  going,  Ralph?"  asked  Harry.  "I'm  not 
altogether  fond  of  the  man,  but  in  a  measure  we  are 
responsible  for  him." 

I  did  not  answer  at  first  as  I  looked  down  upon  the  roofs 
of  Cedar  Crossing.  The  old  trail,  which  would  be  useless 
presently,  came  winding  down  through  the  passes  into  it,  and 
I  knew  that  while  the  average  British  Columbian  is  a  sturdy 
law-abiding  citizen,  a  love  of.  excitement  characterizes  the 
miner,  and  after  being  driven  out  of  the  central  town  site 
by  an  energetic  reform  committee,  a  few  adventurers  of 
both  sexes  and  indifferent  morals  had  foregathered  at  Cedar 
Crossing,  with  the  Magnolia  saloon  as  headquarters. 

Then  I  said,  "Yes,  I'm  going";  and,  as  he  departed, 
the  surveyor  observed  dryly: 

"  I'd  take  along  a  few  picked  men  with  axes.  They  might 
come  in  handy." 

Bright  starlight  shone  coldly  on  the  dim  white  peaks 
when  Harry  and  I  stumbled  among  the  boulders  by  Cedar 
Lake,  in  whose  clear  depths  it  lay  reflected  with  a  silvery 
glitter.  But  it  was  warm  down  in  the  valley,  and  the 
drowsy  breath  of  cedars  filled  the  air,  until  a  reek  of  kero- 
sene replaced  it,  and  presently  a  ruddy  glare  broke  out 
among  the  giant  trunks.  When  we  halted  under  the  blink- 
ing torches  and  two  petroleum  cressets  outside  the  Magnolia, 
it  seemed  as  if  all  the  staff  of  the  railroad  .  had  gathered 
there. 

"  They're  both  here,"  said  Harry,  and  I  saw  Lee  stand- 
ing beside  a  slender  figure  in  unbecoming  dress  among  a 
group  of  men  in  blue  shirts  and  quaintly  mended  jackets; 


ADVOCATES  OF  TEMPERANCE         141 

also  that  some  planks  had  been  laid  across  two  barrels 
close  by. 

"Don't  crowd  upon  the  lady!"  said  a  voice.  "Order! 
the  circus  is  going  to  begin;  we're  only  waiting  for  the 
chairman.  What's  that?  Ain't  got  no  such  luxuries;  well, 
he  can  take  the  barrel." 

After  this,  to  our  astonishment,  Johnston,  neatly  attired, 
stood  aloft  upon  an  overturned  barrel. 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  so  many  of  you,  boys,"  he  said.  "  Now 
I'm  not  a  teetotaler  myself,  and  this  is  the  first  time  I've 
occupied  such  a  platform;  but  we're  all  open  to  conviction, 
and  I  want  you  to  remember  we've  a  lady  here  who  has 
traveled  three  hundred  miles  to  talk  to  you.  All  we  ask  is 
that  you  will  give  her  and  the  old  man  a  fair  show." 

He  had  struck  the  right  note,  for  the  British  Columbian 
is  a  somewhat  chivalrous  person,  and  there  was  silence, 
through  which  the  jingle  of  a  piano  in  the  saloon  broke 
irritatingly,  until  Lee  stood  up. 

"  I'm  a  sinful  man  like  the  rest  of  you,"  he  began  in 
the  more  formal  English  and  high-pitched  inflection  I  knew 
so  well,  though  the  effect  was  diminished  because  some  one 
broke  in  with  assumed  wonder,  "You  don't  say?" 

"  I've  the  same  passions  in  me,"  continued  the  orator, 
unheeding,  "  and  once  I  came  near  murder,  while  for  six 
long  years  I  was  a  sodden  slave  to  this  awful  drink." 

"  Only  awful  when  it's  bad !  "  another  voice  said ;  and 
there  was  a  cry,  "  He's  getting  ahead  nicely!  'Rah  for  the 
next  President !     Give  him  a  show !  " 

"  Sodden  mind  and  body !  "  repeated  Lee ;  "  a-groveling 
on  hands  and  knees  in  the  pit  of  iniquity,  and  when  I  came 
out  it  left  me  what  you  see  —  a  broken  man  who,  if  he'd 
saved  his  soul,  was  too  late  to  save  his  body.  That's  what 
you'll  remember  —  no  one  can  wallow  without  paying  for  it, 
and  you're  strong  men  who  were  meant  for  better.     It's 


142      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

all  in  the  choice  you  make  —  health,  happiness,  prosperity 
—  a  jump  down  a  precipice  into  eternity,  or  dying  half- 
rotten  in  a  Vancouver  hospital.,, 

"  The  old  thing,  but  he's  taking  hold,"  said  Harry  when 
the  speaker  paused  a  moment,  and  then  a  glow  of  light 
beat  out  while  a  tall  figure  stood  in  the  doorway  of  the 
saloon.  The  man's  face  was  scornful  beneath  the  costly 
wide-brimmed  hat;  he  wore  a  spotless  white  shirt  instead  of 
a  blue  one,  while  —  and  this  was  an  unusual  sight  —  a  heavy 
revolver  was  strapped  about  his  waist,  and  neatly  polished 
boots  reached  to  his  knees.  This  I  knew  was  Hemlock 
Jim,  of  evil  repute,  who  had  set  up  a  gaming  table,  and  was 
supposed  to  have  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Magnolia. 

"  Won't  you  come  in,  boys,  instead  of  fooling  'round 
outside  there  in  the  cold?"  he  asked  derisively.  "You  can 
have  as  much  water  as  you  like,  and  we  won't  charge  you 
nothin'  for  the  room." 

I  wondered  what  Johnston,  who  conferred  with  his  com- 
panions, would  do. 

"  I  think  we  will,"  said  the  chairman.  "  Much  obliged  to 
you.  File  in  quietly,  boys,  and  those  who  can't  find  room 
will  sit  on  the  veranda." 

Harry  chuckled.  "  This  is  distinctly  a  new  line  for  our 
partner,"  he  commented,  "  and  the  whole  trio  have  pluck 
enough.  I  fancy  if  the  other  side  try  any  tricks  they'll  find 
their  match  in  Johnston." 

Then,  amid  banter  and  laughter,  the  big  bronzed  men 
filed  up  the  long  bare  room,  after  which  all  eyes  were 
turned  toward  the  three  who  sat  on  a  little  platform  beside  a 
piano.  Facing  them  another  group,  who  I  fancied  meant 
mischief,  lounged  against  the  bar,  looking  on  sardonically. 
Then  the  proprietor,  who  wore  a  large  diamond  in  his 
white  shirt-front,  came  out. 

"  This  yere  discussin'  temperance  is  thirsty  work,"  he  said, 


ADVOCATES  OF  TEMPERANCE  143 

"  and  it  might  improve  the  general  harmony  if  before  you 
begin  in  earnest  you  had  a  drink  with  me.  Ask  them  what 
they're  shouting  for,  Jim;  and,  Jess,  for  once  you'll  rustle 
round  with  the  tray." 

There  was  a  jingle  of  glasses,  and  a  damsel  with  very 
pink  cheeks  and  lemon-colored  hair,  who  apparently  pre- 
sided over  the  piano,  went  round  with  a  tray.  It  was 
emptied  several  times,  and  I  began  to  foresee  that  the 
temperance  demonstration  would  fail  miserably,  as  it  might 
have  done  but  for  Johnston's  ready  wit  and  the  opposite 
party's  imprudence.  Grinning  derisively,  Hemlock  Jim  led 
the  waitress  straight  up  to  the  orators'  platform,  and,  with 
the  revolver  showing  significantly  as  he  bent  forward,  he 
held  out  the  tray  saying: 

"  It  will  help  the  good  feelin'  if  you  have  a  drink  with 
me." 

This  was  a  false  step.  A  big  man  from  the  bush  of 
Ontario,  whose  forebears  had  probably  been  Scottish  Cove- 
nanters, stretched  his  long  limbs  out  in  front  of  Hemlock, 
while  Johnston  smiled  as  he  answered: 

"  Not  at  present.  Unfortunately  I'm  a  little  particular 
as  to  whom  I  drink  with.  Boys,  don't  you  think  it  would 
be  fairer  if  you  heard  our  guests  first,  and  then  paid  for 
your  own  refreshment  afterward  if  they  didn't  convince 
you?" 

Hemlock  Jim  deliberately  set  down  his  tray,  the  Ontario 
bushman  seemed  gathering  himself  together  for  some  pur- 
pose, and  there  was  an  ominous  glitter  in  Johnston's  eyes, 
while  just  as  I  expected  the  fray  to  begin,  the  proprietor 
called  out  laughingly: 

"  Sit  right  down,  Jim.  Pass  on  them  glasses,  Jess.  I 
guess  they  won't  refuse  you." 

It  was  diplomatic,  but  Johnston's  hint  of  fairness  went 
further,  and  in  spite  of  the  frail  beauty's  smiles,  a  number 


144       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

of  those  who  listened  waved  the  tray  aside  with  the  words 

1  pass! 

Then,  when  some  one  called  out  to  ask  what  was  the 
matter  with  the  circus,  and  whether  the  clown  were  lost, 
while  others  demanded  "The  lady!  "  Johnston  turned  to 
Miss  Marvin,  and  there  was  a  hush  as  the  slight  girlish 
figure  —  and  she  seemed  very  young  —  stood  upright  before 
us.  She  thrust  back  the  unlovely  bonnet,  and  her  thin 
face  was  flushed;  but  when,  clenching  nervous  fingers  upon 
the  dowdy  gown,  she  raised  a  high  clear  voice,  every  man 
in  the  assembly  settled  himself  to  listen.  Perhaps  it  was 
a  chivalrous  respect  for  her  womanhood,  or  mere  admira- 
tion for  personal  courage,  and  she  had  most  gallantly  taken 
up  the  challenge;  but  I  think  she  also  spoke  with  force 
and  sincerity,  for  my  own  pulse  quickened  in  time  to  the 
rapid  utterance.  Then  changing  from  the  somewhat  con- 
ventional tirade,  she  leaned  forward  speaking  very  gently, 
and  one  could  hear  the  men  breathe  in  the  stillness,  while, 
as  far  as  I  can  remember,  the  plain  words  ran: 

"It's  not  only  for  you  I'm  pleading;  there  are  the 
women,  too  —  the  sweethearts,  wives  and  daughters  waiting 
at  home  for  you.  Just  where  and  how  are  they  waiting? 
Shall  I  tell  you?  'Way  back  up  yonder  tending  the  cattle 
in  the  lonely  ranch,  where  the  timber  wolves  howl  along 
ranges  on  the  moonlight  nights;  and  I  guess  you  know  it's 
lonely  up  there  in  the  bush.  Then  I  can  see  others  sewing 
with  heavy  eyes  and  backs  that  are  aching  in  a  Vancouver 
shack.  You  had  no  money  to  leave  them,  and  they  had  to 
do  the  best  they  could.  Have  they  no  use  for  the  money 
you  would  spend  in  liquor  here  —  the  women  who  never 
cried  out  when  they  let  you  go?  Don't  heart-break  and 
black,  black  solitude  count  anything  with  you?  You're 
building  railroads,  building  up  a  great  Dominion,  but  the 
waiting  women  are  doing  their  part,  too.     And  I'm  thinking 


ADVOCATES  OF  TEMPERANCE         145 

of  others  still,  gilt-edged  and  dainty,  'way  in  the  old  country. 
I've  seen  a  few.  Where's  the  man  from  an  English  college 
that  used  to  feel  himself  better  after  they  talked  to  him? 
Is  he  here  with  the  fire  of  bad  whisky  in  him,  betting 
against  the  banker  to  win  a  smile  from  Jess  of  Caribou?" 

This  woman  knew  how  to  stir  them,  and  there  was  an 
expressive  murmur,  while  some  fidgeted.  Then  the  pro- 
prietor beckoned  across  the  room,  and  Hemlock  Jim  spoke: 

"  This  is  only  high-tone  sentiment.  Most  of  us  aren't 
married,  and  don't  intend  to.  No,  sir,  we've  no  use  for 
a  missis  rustling  round  with  a  long-handled  broom  on  the 
track  of  us,  and  I'm  going  to  move  an  amendment." 

"  You  can't  do  it,"  said  Johnston.  "  You  brought  us 
in  of  your  own  will,  and  now  you've  got  to  hear  us. 
This  meeting  is  going  on  quietly  to  its  conclusion  if  I  hold 
the  chair.     Sit  down,  sir." 

"  I'll  be  shot  if  I  do!"  said  the  other,  and  it  became 
evident  that  trouble  was  near,  for  a  group  of  the  disaffected 
commenced  to  sidle  toward  the  platform,  calling  on  Caribou 
Jessy  to  give  them  a  song. 

But  Johnston  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  "  If  you're 
wanting  music  we've  brought  our  own  orchestra  along. 
Mr.  Harry  Lorraine,  the  tenor,  will  oblige  you." 

Harry  promptly  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  thing,  for 
he  sat  down  good-humoredly,  and,  though  I  forget  what 
he  sang,  it  was  a  ballad  with  a  catching  refrain,  which  he 
rendered  well,  and  hardly  had  the  applause  died  away  when 
the  girl  commenced  again,  while  Lee,  who  followed,  made  a 
strong  impression  this  time.  Then,  before  the  interest  had 
slackened,  Miss  Marvin  held  up  a  little  book,  smiling 
sweetly  as  she  said : 

"  It  was  kind  of  you  to  listen  so  patiently,  and  now  I'm 
asking  a  last  favor.  Won't  you  all  walk  along  and  write 
your  names  down  here?  " 


146      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

A  number  of  the  listeners  did  so,  and  when  the  rest 
refused  jestingly,  Johnston  got  up. 

"  The  meeting  is  over,"  he  said,  "  but  there's  one  thing 
yet  to  do  —  to  pass  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  proprietor  for 
the  use  of  his  saloon.  Then  I  should  like  to  ask  him  to 
lay  out  his  best  cigars  on  the  bar  for  every  one  to  help 
himself.,, 

There  was  acclamation,  and  the  assembly  would  have 
dispersed  peaceably  but  that  just  as  we  went  out  Hemlock 
Jim,  who  had  gathered  the  disaffected  round  him,  said  to 
Johnston : 

"I'm  glad  to  see  the  last  of  you.  Now  sail  out  into 
perdition,  and  take  your  shameless  woman  with  you.  But 
—  I'm  not  particular  —  she's  got  to  pay  tribute  first." 

He  grasped  the  trembling  girl's  shoulder,  dragged  back 
the  ample  bonnet,  but  the  next  moment  I  had  him  by  the 
throat,  and  he  went  reeling  sideways  among  his  comrades. 
Then,  as  by  a  signal  the  tumult  began,  for  with  a  crash 
of  splintered  glass  the  nearest  lamp  went  out,  and  a  rush 
was  made  upon  us.  Something  struck  me  heavily  on  the 
head;  I  saw  Johnston  stagger  under  a  heavy  blow;  but  I 
held  myself  before  the  girl  as  we  were  hustled  through  the 
doorway,  and  when  a  pistol-barrel  glinted  one  of  the  railroad 
men  whirled  aloft  an  axe.  We  were  outside  now,  but  the 
pistol  blazed  before  the  blade  came  down,  and  a  man  beside 
me  caught  at  a  veranda  pillar  with  a  cry  just  as  the  door 
banged  to. 

"  It's  Pete  of  the  shovel  gang!  "  somebody  said.  "  It  was 
Hemlock  Jim  who  shot  him.  Where's  the  man  with  the 
axe  to  chop  one  of  these  pillars  for  a  battering-ram?  Roll 
round  here,  railroad  builders !  " 

A  roar  of  angry  voices  broke  out,  and  it  was  evident  that 
popular  sympathy  was  on  the  reformers'  side,  while  my  blood 
was  up.     Pete  of  the  shovel  gang,  a  quiet,  inoffensive  man, 


ADVOCATES  OF  TEMPERANCE  147 

sat  limply  on  the  veranda,  with  the  blood  trickling  from  his 
shoulder,  and  there  was  the  insult  to  the  girl  to  be  avenged; 
while,  if  more  were  needed,  somebody  hurled  opprobrious 
epithets  at  us  from  an  upper  window.  I  wrenched  the  axe 
from  its  owner  —  and  he  resisted  stubbornly  —  whirled  it 
round  my  shoulder,  and  there  was  another  roar  when  after 
a  shower  of  splinters  the  stout  post  yielded.  It  was  torn 
loose  from  the  rafters,  swung  backward  by  sinewy  arms, 
and  driven  crashing  against  the  saloon  door,  one  panel  of 
which  went  in  before  it.  Twice  again,  while  another  pistol- 
shot  rang  out,  we  plied  the  ram,  and  then  followed  it  pell- 
mell  across  the  threshold,  where  we  went  down  in  a  heap 
amid  the  wreckage  of  the  door,  though  I  had  sense  enough 
left  to  remove  Hemlock's  smoking  revolver  which  lay  close 
by,  just  where  he  had  dropped  it  on  the  floor.  He  evidently 
had  not  expected  this  kind  of  attack  and  suffered  for  his 
ignorance.  We  could  not  see  him,  but  a  breathless  voice  im- 
plored somebody  to  "  Give  them  blame  deadbeats  socks !  " 
and  there  was  evidently  need  for  prompt  action,  because  the 
rest  of  our  opponents  had  entrenched  themselves  behind  the 
bar,  which  was  freely  strengthened  by  chairs  and  tables; 
also,  as  we  picked  ourselves  up,  an  invisible  man  behind  the 
barricade  called  out  in  warning: 

"  Stop  right  there.     Two  of  us  have  guns!  " 

"  Will  you  come  out,  and  give  up  Hemlock  Jim?  "  asked 
Johnston,  while  half  a  dozen  men  who  had  found  strangely 
assorted  weapons  gathered  alert  and  eager  behind  him,  a 
little  in  advance  of  the  rest,  and  Lee  panted  among  them 
with  the  blood  running  down  his  face. 

"  If  you  want  him  you've  got  to  lick  us  first!  "  was  the 
answer.  "  We  don't  back  down  on  a  partner.  But  I  guess 
he's  hardly  worth  the  trouble,  for  he's  looking  very  sick  — 
your  blank  battering-ram  took  him  in  the  stummick." 

"  One  minute  in  which  to  change  your  mind !  "  said  Johns- 


148       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ton,  holding  up  his  watch.  "  Bring  along  that  log,  boys, 
and  get  her  on  th$  swing ;"  and  tightening  my  grip  on  the 
axe  I  watched  >^e  heavy  beam  oscillate  as  our  partner 
called  off  the  last  few  seconds. 

"Fifty-four!  fifty-five!  fifty-six!— " 

But  he  got  no  further.  Swinging  sideways  from  the 
waist,  he  was  only  just  in  time,  for  once  more  a  pistol  flashed 
among  the  chairs;  and  when  another  man  loosed  his  hold 
Johnston  roared,  "  Let  her  go!  " 

The  head  of  the  beam  went  forward ;  we  followed  it  with 
a  yell.  There  was  a  crash  of  splintered  red-wood,  and  my 
axe  clove  a  chair.  Then  shouting  men  were  scrambling  over 
the  remnants  of  the  bar,  while  just  what  happened  during 
the  next  few  moments  I  do  not  remember,  except  that  there 
was  a  great  destruction  of  property,  and  presently  I  halted 
breathless,  while  the  leader  of  the  vanquished,  who  were 
hemmed  in  a  corner,  raised  his  hand. 

"  We're  corralled,  and  give  up,"  he  said.  "  Here's  Hem- 
lock Jim  —  not  much  good  to  any  one  by  the  look  of  him. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  with  us?  " 

"  Are  those  men  badly  hurt?  "  asked  Johnston. 

"  Not  much,"  some  one  answered.  "  Pete's  drilled  clean 
through  the  upper  arm;  it  missed  the  artery,  and  the  ball 
just  ripped  my  leg." 

"  Well,  we'll  settle  about  Jim  afterward ;  it's  surgical 
assistance  he  wants  first.  As  to  the  rest  of  you,  he  led  you 
into  this,  and  we'll  let  you  go  on  two  conditions  —  you  sub- 
scribe a  dollar  each  to  Miss  Marvin's  society  and  sign  the 
pledge." 

There  was  a  burst  of  laughter,  in  which  even  some  of 
the  vanquished  joined  sheepishly;  but  as  they  filed  past  be- 
tween a  guard  armed  with  shovels  and  empty  bottles  Johns- 
ton saw  that  they  filled  their  names  into  the  book,  and  duly 
handed  each  his  ticket,  while  I  regret  to  say  that  Harry's 


ADVOCATES  OF  TEMPERANCE         149 

selection  was  daringly  appropriate,  a$  with  full  musical 
honors  he  played  them  out. 

"  There's  a  hat  at  the  door!"  said  Johnston,  "you  can 
put  your  dollars  in.  You  have  spent  an  exciting  evening, 
and  must  pay  for  your  fun."  And  presently  that  hat  over- 
flowed with  money,  while  Lee,  with  his  Ontario  stalwarts, 
did  huge  execution  with  a  shovel  among  such  bottles  as 
remained  unwrecked  behind  the  bar.  We  placed  Hemlock 
Jim  on  a  stretcher,  groaning  distressfully,  while  our  two 
wounded  declared  themselves  fit  to  walk,  and  before  we 
marched  off  in  triumph  to  the  camp  Johnston  raised  his 
hat  as  he  placed  a  heavy  package  of  silver  in  Miss  Marvin's 
hand. 

•  a  I've  no  doubt  your  organization  can  make  a  good  use 
of  this,"  he  said.  "  It's  also  a  tribute  to  your  own  bravery. 
I'll  leave  you  half  a  dozen  men  who'll  camp  in  the  road 
opposite  your  lodgings,  and  see  you  safely  back  to  the  main 
line  to-morrow.  They're  most  sober  Calvinists,  with  con- 
victions of  the  Cromwellian  kind,  and  I  don't  think  any  of 
our  late  disturbers  will  care  to  interfere  with  them." 

When  we  approached  the  tents,  chanting  weird  songs  of 
victory,  the  surveyor  met  us,  and  in  answer  to  his  questions 
Johnston  laughed. 

"  The  temperance  meeting  was  an  unqualified  success,"  he 
said.  "  We've  broken  up  all  the  bottles  in  the  Magnolia  sa- 
loon —  Lee  reveled  among  them  with  a  hammer.  Then  we 
made  all  the  malcontents  we  could  catch  sign  the  pledge,  and 
you'll  find  the  chief  dissenter  behind  there  on  the  stretcher." 

"  Glad  to  hear  it,"  remarked  the  surveyor,  dryly.  "  Judg- 
ing by  your  appearance  the  proceedings  must  have  been  of 
the  nature  of  an  Irish  fair." 

I  remember  that  when  we  discussed  the  affair  later  Johns- 
ton said,  "  What  did  I  do  it  for?  Well,  perhaps  from  a 
sense  of  fairness,  or  because  that  girl's  courage  got  hold  of 


150       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

me.  Don't  set  up  as  a  reformer  — -  that's  not  me ;  but  I've 
a  weakness  for  downright  if  blundering  sincerity,  and  I 
fancied  I  could  indirectly  help  them  a  little." 

The  next  morning  we  were  astonished  to  find  that  Hem- 
lock Jim  had  gone.  "Thought  he  was  dyin'  last  night!" 
said  the  watcher,  "  and  as  that  didn't  matter  I  went  to  sleep; 
woke  up,  and  there  wasn't  a  trace  of  him."  This  was  evi- 
dently true,  and  where  he  went  to  remained  a  mystery,  for 
we  heard  no  more  of  Hemlock  Jim,  though  there  was  a 
marked  improvement  in  the  morals  of  Cedar  Crossing,  while, 
and  this  we  hardly  expected,  some  of  those  who  signed  that 
pledge  honestly  kept  it. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  HIRED  TEAMSTER 

CPEAKING  generally,  winter  is  much  less  severe  in  Brit- 
ish Columbia,  especially  near  the  coast,  than  it  is  on  the 
prairie,  though  it  is  sufficiently  trying  high  up  among  the 
mountains,  where  as  a  rule  little  work  is  done  at  that  season. 
Still,  though  the  number  of  the  track-layers  was  largely 
reduced,  the  inhabitants  of  the  mining  region  had  waited 
long  enough,  and  so,  in  spite  of  many  hardships,  slowly, 
fathom  by  fathom,  we  carried  the  rail-head  on. 

Now  and  then  for  several  days  together  we  sat  in  our 
log-built  shelter  while  a  blinding  snowstorm  raged  outside 
and  the  pines  filled  the  valley  with  their  roaring.  Then 
there  were  weeks  of  bitter  frost,  when  work  was  partly 
suspended,  and  both  rock  and  soil  defied  our  efforts.  One 
of  our  best  horses  died  and  another  fell  over  a  precipice. 
Hay  was  hardly  to  be  bought  with  money,  provisions  only 
at  an  exorbitant  cost,  and  though  we  received  a  few  interim 
payments  it  was,  as  Johnston  said,  even  chances  either  way 
if  we  kept  on  top,  because  every  day  of  enforced  idleness 
cost  us  many  dollars.  However,  floundering  through  snow- 
slush,  swinging  the  axe  in  driving  sleet  and  rain,  or  hauling 
the  massy  logs  through  the  mire  of  a  sudden  thaw,  we  per- 
sisted in  our  task,  though  often  at  nights  we  sat  inside  the 
shanty,  which  was  filled  with  steaming  garments,  counting 
the  cost,  in  a  state  of  gloomy  despondency.  Except  for  the 
thought  of  Grace,  there  were  moments  when  I  might  have 
yielded;  but  we  were  always  an  obstinate  race,  and  seeing 

151 


152      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

that  I  was  steacl lastly  determined  to  hold  out  to  the  last, 
the  others  gallantly  aided  me.  Now,  wThen  the  time  of 
stress  is  past,  I  know  how  much  I  owe  to  their  loyalty. 

At  length,  rrwever,  the  winter  drew  to  an  end,  and  the 
whole  mountain  region  rejoiced  at  the  coming  of  the  spring. 
A  warm  wind  from  the  Pacific  set  the  cedars  rustling,  the 
sun  shone  bright  and  hot,  and  the  open  fringe  of  the  forest 
was  garlanded  with  flowers,  while  a  torrent  made  wild  music 
in  every  ravine.  I  wTas  sitting  outside  our  shanty  one  morn- 
ing smoking  a  pet  English  briar,  whose  stem  was  bitten 
half-way,  and  reveling  in  the  warmth  and  brightness,  when 
the  unexpected  happened.  By  degrees,  perhaps  under  the 
spell  of  some  influence  which  stirs  us  when  sleeping  nature 
awakens  once  more  to  life,  I  lost  myself  in  reverie,  and 
recalled  drowsily  a  certain  deep,  oak-shrouded  hollow  under 
the  Lancashire  hills,  where  at  that  season  pale  yellow  stars  of 
primroses  peeped  out  among  the  fresh  green  of  tender  leaves. 
Then  the  bald  heights  of  Starcross  Moor  rose  up  before 
me,  and  Grace  came  lightly  across  the  heather  chanting  a 
song,  with  her  hat  flung  back,  and  the  west  wind  kissing  her 
face  into  delicate  color,  until  a  tramp  of  footsteps  drew 
nearer  down  the  track. 

A  man,  who  evidently  was  neither  a  bush-rancher  nor  a 
railroad  hand,  approached  and  said  with  a  pure  English 
accent : 

"  I'm  in  a  difficulty,  and  it  was  suggested  that  Contractor 
Lorimer  might  help  me.  I  presume  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
addressing  him?     My  name  is  Calvert." 

"  I  will  if  I  can,"  I  answered,  and  the  stranger  continued : 

"  It's  my  duty  to  escort  two  ladies  from  the  main  line 
into  the  Lonsdale  valley.  They  have  a  quantity  of  baggage, 
and  I  have  no  confidence  in  the  half-starved  Cayuse  ponies 
the  Indians  offered  me.  The  trails  are  hardly  safe  just  now, 
and  the  regular  freighters  hadn't  a  beast  to  spare.     It  would 


THE  HIRED  TEAMSTER  153 

be  a  favor  if  you  came  with  yours,  and  we  should,  of  course, 
be  glad  to  recoup  you  for  the  time  you  lose." 

His  manner  was  pleasant,  money  was  very  scarce  then, 
and  as  it  happened  we  had  been  compelled  to  lay  off  for  a 
day  or  two,  awaiting  material;  so  I  arranged  to  start  with 
him. 

"  A  little  change  will  be  good  for  you,"  Harry  said,  when 
the  man  departed.  "  You  have  been  looking  as  grim  as  a 
hungry  bear  lately.  Jim  Lawrence,  I  dare  say,  would  lend 
you  his  sisters'  saddles." 

The  outward  journey,  made  partly  under  cover  of  dark- 
ness, was  arduous,  for  each  torrent  came  roaring  down 
swollen  by  melting  snow  almost  bank-full,  and  portions  of 
the  trail  had  been  washed  away;  but  we  reached  the  station 
settlement  in  safety,  and  after  a  few  hours'  sleep  there  we 
turned  out  to  meet  the  west-bound  train.  It  came  thun- 
dering down  the  valley  presently  with  the  sunlight  flashing 
upon  burnished  metal  and  the  long  car  windows,  and  when 
amid  a  roar  of  blown-off  steam  it  rolled  into  the  station,  I 
wondered  with  mild  curiosity  what  kind  of  women  the  new 
arrivals  would  be.  The  next  moment  my  pulse  quickened 
as  a  gray-haired  lady  stepped  down  from  the  platform  of 
a  car,  for  when  my  companion  hurried  forward  with  up- 
lifted hat  I  saw  that  it  was  Miss  Carrington,  while  fresh 
and  dainty,  as  though  she  had  not  traveled  at  all,  Grace 
followed  her. 

Then  I  remembered  that  my  place  was  that  of  hired 
teamster,  and  I  stood  waiting  outside  the  baggage-car  until 
Calvert  gave  me  the  brass  checks,  after  which  I  assisted  the 
man  who  came  with  me  to  cinch  a  surprisingly  heavy  load 
on  our  two  pack-horses.  The  battered  felt  hat  probably 
concealed  my  face,  all  I  had  on  was  homely  and  consider- 
ably the  worse  for  wear,  and  it  was  scarcely  surprising  that 
they  did  not  recognize  me.     Presently,  leading  Jasper's  bay 


154       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

horse  forward,  I  stooped  and  held  out  my  hand  for  Grace  to 
rest  her  little  foot  on,  and  when  she  swung  herself  lightly 
into  the  saddle,  Calvert  said: 

"  The  sooner  we  start  the  better,  the  trails  are  positively 
awful.  Contractor  Lorimer,  you  will  no  doubt  take  especial 
care  of  Miss  Carrington." 

Swinging  low  the  broad  hat,  I  looked  up  and  saw  a  faint 
tinge  of  crimson  mantle  in  the  face  of  the  girl,  while  again 
a  thrill  went  through  me  when  she  said  simply,  "  Ralph!  " 
for  that  name  had  never  passed  her  lips  before  in  my 
hearing. 

Then,  while  Calvert  looked  hard  at  me  and  the  elder 
lady  bowed,  she  patted  the  bay  horse's  neck,  saying  frankly: 

"  It's  an  unexpected  pleasure,  and  I  have  often  been  think- 
ing about  you,  but  never  expected  to  meet  you  here.  What 
a  handsome  beast  you  have  brought  me!  " 

Grace  seldom  showed  all  her  feelings,  for  a  sweet  serenity 
characterized  her^  but  this  time  I  fancied  that  our  relative 
positions  both  puzzled  and  troubled  her,  and  I  regretted  my 
own  stupidity  in  not  asking  who  the  ladies  were.  Still,  I 
managed  to  answer  that  Caesar  should  be  proud  of  his  bur- 
den. 

That  was  a  memorable  journey  in  various  ways.  In 
places,  beaten  by  the  hoofs  of  many  pack-horses,  the  trail 
was  knee-deep  in  mire,  and  in  others  it  was  lost  under  beds 
of  treacherous  shale.  But  Caesar  was  used  to  the  moun- 
tains, and  I  strode  beside  his  head,  heeding  neither  slippery 
shingle  nor  plastic  mud,  for  Grace  chatted  about  her  English 
visit,  and  with  such  a  companion  I  should  have  floundered 
contentedly  over  leagues  of  ice  and  snow. 

The  valleys  were  filled  with  freshness,  and  the  air  was 
balmy  with  scents,  while  every  bird  and  beast  rejoiced  with 
the  vigor  of  the  spring.  Now  and  then  a  blue  grouse  broke 
out  drumming  from  the  summit  of  a  stately  fir,  white-headed 


THE  HIRED  TEAMSTER  155 

eagles  and  fish-hawks  wheeled  screaming  above  the  frothing 
shallows  on  slanted  wing,  and  silently,  like  flitting  shadows, 
the  little  wood-deer  leaped  across  the  trail,  or  amid  a 
crash  of  undergrowth  a  startled  black  bear  charged  in  blind 
panic  through  the  dim  recesses  of  the  bush.  Once,  too, 
with  a  snarl,  a  panther  sprang  out  from  a  thicket,  and  Cal- 
vert's rifle  flashed;  but  the  only  result  was  that  Caesar  tried 
to  rear  upright.  With  fear  I  clutched  at  his  rein,  and  it 
was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  the  big,  rough-coated  horse  settle 
down  as  if  ashamed  of  his  fright  when  the  fair  rider  spoke 
soothingly  to  him.  All  dumb  creatures  took  kindly  to 
Grace,  and,  though  Caesar  could  show  a  very  pretty  temper 
in  ungentle  hands,  he  yielded  to  the  caressing  touch  of  her 
soft  fingers.  Then  he  turned  his  eyes  upon  me  with  a  look 
that  seemed  an  apology  for  dividing  his  allegiance,  while 
Grace  smiled  under  lowered  lashes,  as  though  she  did  not 
wish  to  meet  my  gaze.  It  was  a  trifling  incident,  but  in- 
wardly I  thanked  the  good  horse  for  it.  Later,  when  we 
came  up  out  of  a  roaring  ford,  through  which  I  carefully 
led  Caesar,  with  the  stream  boiling  about  my  waist,  into  a 
dim  avenue,  she  looked  down  at  me  as  she  said: 

"  This  is  a  dream-like  country,  and  I  never  imagined  any- 
thing so  beautiful.  And  yet  it  is  familiar.  Do  you  re- 
member what  you  once  said  to  me  at  Lone  Hollow?  " 

The  question  was  wholly  unnecessary,  for  I  could  re- 
member each  moment  of  that  night,  and  any  one  in  touch 
with  nature  could  understand  her  comment.  It  was  a  great 
forest  temple  through  which  wre  were  marching,  where  the 
giant  conifers  were  solemn  with  the  antiquity  of  long  ages, 
for  it  had  taken  probably  a  thousand  years  to  raise  the 
vaulted  roof  above  us,  with  its  groined  arches  of  red  branches 
and  its  mighty  pillars  of  living  wood.  Nature  does  all 
things  slowly,  but  her  handiwork  is  very  good. 

"  Yes,"  Grace  continued,  "  it  seems  familiar  — -  as  though 


156       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

you  and  I  had  ridden  together  through  such  a  country  once 
before;  I  even  seem  to  know  those  great  redwoods  well. 
I  —  I  think  I  dreamed  it,  but  there  is  another  intangible 
memory  in  which  you  figured  too." 

"  I  could  not  be  in  better  company,"  I  answered,  smiling, 
though  my  heart  beat.  "  We  are  such  stuff  as  dreams  are 
made  of,  and  our  little  life  is  rounded  with  a  sleep,  you 
know;  and  here  among  the  mountains  it  seems  borne  in  on 
one  forcibly  that,  as  I  told  you  my  partner  said,  man's  in- 
tellect is  feeble  and  we  do  not  know  everything." 

Grace  sighed,  and  then,  though  she  answered  lightly, 
there  was  the  same  puzzled  look  on  her  face  that  I  had 
seen  for  a  moment  at  Cypress  Hollow.  It  seemed  as  if  her 
mind  reached  forward  toward  something  that  eluded  its 
grasp,  until  we  both  broke  into  laughter  as  a  willow-grouse 
disturbed  by  the  horse's  feet  rose  whirring  to  a  redwood 
branch  and  perched  there,  close  within  reach,  regarding  us 
with  an  assurance  that  was  ludicrous. 

"  It  thinks  it  is  perfectly  safe,"  I  said.  "  You  might 
shoot  until  you  hit  it,  or  knock  it  down  with  a  stick,  and  yet 
there  is  no  more  timorous  creature  among  the  undergrowth, 
unless  it  has  a  brood  of  chicks,  when  it  will  attack  any  one." 

At  noon  we  rested  for  luncheon  in  an  open  glade,  where 
bright  sunlight  beat  down  upon  the  boulders  of  a  stream 
which  surged  among  them,  stained  green  by  the  drainage 
from  a  glacier ;  and  there  was  merry  laughter  over  the  viands 
Calvert  produced  from  his  pack. 

"  I  did  my  best,  Miss  Carrington,"  he  said,  "  but  as  yet 
they're  a  primitive  people  among  these  mountains  —  and  it's 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  with  that  huge  rampart  between 
them  and  civilization.  *  Something  nice  for  a  lady  ?  '  the 
storekeeper  said.  '  Guess  I've  just  got  it.'  And  he  planked 
down  a  salmon-fed  reistit  ham  and  this  bottle  of  ancient 
candy,  with  the  dead  flies  thrown  in.     Still,  one  can't  help 


THE  HIRED  TEAMSTER  157 

admiring  them  for  the  way  theyVe  held  on,  growing  stuff 
they  cannot  sell,  building  stores  where  few  men  come  to  buy, 
and  piling  up  low-grade  ore  that  won't  pay  its  pack-freight 
to  the  smelter.  Also  I've  seen  work  that  three  men  spent 
a  year  over  which  a  hydraulic  monitor  would  have  done  in  a 
few  days,  while  the  rocks  seem  bursting  with  riches  and  the 
valleys  with  fertility;  but  they  can  get  neither  produce  out 
nor  mining  plant  in.  Their  greatest  hero  now  is  a  certain 
enterprising  director,  and  they'd  decline  an  angel's  visit  at 
any  time  for  that  of  a  railroad  builder." 

"  I  sometimes  wish  I  had  been  born  a  man,  with  work 
of  that  kind  to  do,"  said  Grace,  with  a  fire  in  her  eyes. 
"  We  hear  of  the  old  romance  and  lost  chivalry,  but  there 
was  never  more  than  in  these  modern  days,  only  it  has 
changed  its  guise.  If  we  haven't  the  knight  in  armor  or  the 
roystering  swashbuckler,  we  have  the  man  with  the  axe  and 
drill;  and  is  it  not  a  task  for  heroes  to  drive  the  level  steel 
road  through  these  tremendous  mountains?  You  are  smil- 
ing, Mr.  Calvert.  I  read  the  papers  —  Colonial  and  Brit- 
ish, all  I  can  come  across  —  and  I  know  that  some  day 
England  will  need  all  her  colonies.  You  cannot  deny  that 
this  is  a  sensible  question :  Which  is  the  better  for  an  Eng- 
lish gentleman,  to  use  all  the  strength  and  valor  that  is  en- 
trusted him  —  we  are  taught  there  will  be  a  reckoning  when 
he  must  account  for  them —  subduing  savage  Nature,  that 
the  hungry  may  eat  cheaper  bread,  or  lounging  about  a  race- 
course, shooting  driven  pheasants  —  I  know  it  needs  high 
skill  —  or  wasting  precious  hours  in  the  reeking  smoke-room 
of  his  club?  If  I  had  a  brother  I  should  sooner  see  him 
working  as  a  C.  P.  R.  track-shoveler." 

"  Grace  has  strong  opinions,"  said  the  old  lady.  "  I 
think  she  is  right,  in  a  measure." 

Calvert  bowed,  "  It's  in  the  Carrington  blood.  Miss 
Grace,  I  once  heard  one  of  your  father's  old  comrades  say 


158       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

that  the  Colonel  could  keep  no  officers  because  he  wore  them 
out,  and  he  might  have  ended  as  General  but  that  he  re- 
versed the  positions  and  wanted  to  instruct  the  War  Office. 
However,  you  mustn't  be  too  hard  on  the  poor  loungers; 
they  eat  the  things  the  other  fellows  grow,  and  some  of 
them  subscribe  the  money  to  make  the  new  railroads  go  — 
they  don't  always  get  dividends  on  it  either.  Besides,"  — 
and  there  was  a  twinkle  in  his  eyes  — "  you  are  making 
my  new  friend  uncomfortable.  He  is  a  railroad  builder. 
Are  you  working  for  philanthropic  notions,  Mr.  Lorimer?  " 

"  No,"  I  answered  soberly ;  and  the  rest  of  the  party 
laughed  as  I  added:  "  Only  to  pay  back  what  I  owe;  and 
we  are  making  slow  progress  in  that  direction.  Still,  the 
work  has  its  fascination,  and  it  will  last  and  be  useful  after 
we  are  gone." 

Then,  while  Calvert  spoke  to  Miss  Carrington,  Grace 
turned  toward  me  with  a  sudden  look  of  interest. 

"  You  are  not  exactly  prospering,  I  gather,"  she  said,  "  and 
I  am  very  sorry.  Please  commence  when  you  left  Fairmead 
and  tell  me  all  the  story." 

I  did  so  —  perhaps  not  very  clearly,  for  she  asked  many 
questions  during  the  course  of  the  narrative;  and  her  eyes 
sparkled  at  the  story  of  our  profitless  struggle  in  the  coulee. 

"  Flour  —  poor  thirds ;  whose  brand  ?  —  local  pork  — 
and  doubtless  the  cheapest  tea,  you  lived  on.  I  manage  the 
affairs  of  the  Manor,  and  may  I  ask  what  your  grocery 
list  came  to?  How  much  maize  and  oats  for  the  horses? 
Thank  you.  It  was  just  as  one  might  have  expected.  No, 
I  have  never  been  disappointed  in  either  Harry  Lorraine 
or  you." 

She  dragged  the  particulars  from  me  —  and  no  one, 
much  less  Ralph  Lorimer,  could  refuse  to  answer  Grace 
Carrington  —  with  a  skill  that  came  from  practical  knowl- 


THE  HIRED  TEAMSTER  159 

edge  of  such  details,  before  I  even  guessed  what  she  wished 
to  arrive  at.     Then  she  laughed  at  my  confusion. 

"  You  have  no  need  to  blush.  Starved  yourselves  and 
fed  the  cattle.  It  was  well  done.  And  didn't  the  new 
partner  grumble  ?  " 

"  No,"  I  answered,  glad  to  change  the  subject.  "  Johnston 
never  grumbled  at  anything  in  his  life,  I  think.  It  was  he 
who  managed  the  commissariat." 

"  Do  you  realize,  Mr.  Lorimer,  that  you  are  in  many 
ways  a  lucky  man?"  she  added.  "I  understand  perfectly 
what  it  means  to  lose  a  crop  and  carry  out  an  unprofitable 
contract.  But  it  is  in  reference  to  your  comrades  I  speak. 
Fearless,  loyal  partners  are  considerably  better  than  the 
best  of  gear  with  half-hearted  help,  and  it  is  evident  that 
you  have  them." 

"  Yes,"  I  said.  "  No  man  ever  had  better;  and  it  is  quite 
true  what  you  say.  With  a  loyal  partner  a  man  may  do 
very  much,  and,  if  he  is  sure  of  himself,  with  a  higher  mind 
to  show  him  the  way,  he  might  reach  out  toward  the  heavens 
and—" 

Here  I  stopped  abruptly.  Wild  thoughts  were  crystal- 
lizing into  words  I  might  not  speak,  and  I  grew  hot  with 
the  struggle  to  check  them,  while  I  fancied  that  Grace 
blushed  before  she  turned  her  face  away.  I  know  my  brow 
was  furrowed  and  my  fingers  trembled,  so  that  it  was  a 
relief  presently  to  hear  her  musical  laugh. 

"  You  are  not  an  orator,"  she  said,  turning  around 
calmly;  "and  perhaps  it  is  as  well.  It  is  not  orators  who 
are  wanted  in  this  country.  Your  eloquent  beginning  too 
suddenly  breaks  away.  But  don't  you  think  we  are  in  the 
meantime  drifting  into  idle  sentiment?  And  you  have  asked 
me  neither  where  I  am  going  nor  about  Colonel  Carrington." 

It  was  true;  the  first  would  have  seemed  presumptuous 


160       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

and  I  did  not  care  greatly  about  the  redoubtable  Colonel's 
health. 

"  He  has  invested  some  money  in  a  new  mine  in  the 
Lonsdale  district,"  she  said;  and  there  was  a  slight  cloud 
on  her  brow  as  she  continued :  "  The  Manor  farm  has 
lately  cost  us,  through  bad  seasons,  more  than  we  made 
from  it.  So,  while  Foster  takes  charge,  we  are  going  to  live 
in  a  ranch  up  here  this  summer,  .in  order  that  my  father 
may  assist  in  the  development  of  the  mine.  He  is  practi- 
cally the  leading  partner,  and  until  your  railroad  is  finished 
there  will  be  serious  transportation  difficulties.  I  hope  you 
will  come  to  see  us  often." 

"  Time  is  up !  "  said  Calvert. 

I  helped  Grace  into  the  saddle,  and  the  rest  of  the  perfect 
afternoon  passed  like  a  happy  dream.  Even  if  alone,  at  that 
season  the  mere  sounds  and  scents  of  reawakening  Nature 
would  have  elated  me;  but  then  I  strode  on,  holding  Caesar's 
rein,  lost  in  the  golden  glamour  of  it  all,  until  snow  peak 
and  solemn  forest  seemed  but  a  fitting  background  for  the 
slender  figure  swaying  to  the  horse's  stride,  while  the  pale, 
calm  face  brought  into  the  shadowy  aisles  a  charm  of  its  own. 
Once  —  and  I  could  not  help  myself  —  a  few  lines  written 
by  a  master  who  loved  Nature  broke  from  me,  and  for  a 
moment  Grace  seemed  startled.  It  was  a  passage  from 
the  first  home-coming  of  Queen  Guinevere. 

"  Shall  we  thank  Providence  for  a  good  conceit  of  our- 
selves? "  she  said  lightly,  a  little  later.  "  You  are  hardly  a 
Lancelot,  Sir  Railroad  Builder ;  and  she  —  is  it  a  compliment 
to  compare  me  with  Arthur's  faithless  Queen  ?  " 

Thereupon  I  lapsed  into  silence,  feeling  like  one  who 
has  blundered  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice;  and  Grace  was 
silent  too,  for  the  day  drew  toward  its  close,  and  a  red  glare 
of  sunset  came,  slanting  in  among  the  massy  trunks,  striking 
strange  glints  of  color  from  her  hair,  while  winsome  and 


THE  HIRED  TEAMSTER  161 

graceful  to  the  tiny  foot  in  the  stirrup,  her  lissom  shape 
was  outlined  against  it.  Then  for  a  while  we  left  the 
woods,  and  rode  down  the  hillside  under  the  last  of  the 
afterglow,  which  blazed,  orange,  green  and  crimson,  along 
the  heights  of  eternal  snow,  calling  up  ruby  flashes  from  the 
ragged  edge  of  a  glacier,  while  Grace  seemed  lost  in  wonder 
and  awe.  I  do  not  think  there  are  any  sunsets  in  the  world 
like  those  of  British  Columbia. 

"It  is  unearthly  —  majestic!"  she  said  half  to  herself. 
"  And  once  I  almost  felt  inclined  to  sympathize  with  a 
Transatlantic  scribbler,  who  compared  the  Revelation  to 
what  he  termed  a  wholesale  jewelry  show.  He  was  a  towns- 
man who  had  never  crossed  the  Rockies  —  and  if  there  are 
glories  like  this  on  earth,  what  must  the  everlasting  city  be  ?  " 

The  weird  fires  paled  and  faded,  and  the  peaks  were 
coldly  solemn  under  their  crown  of  snow,  while  a  little 
breeze  awoke  strange  harmonies  among  the  cedars,  and  there 
was  no  more  talking.  Perhaps  we  were  physically  tired, 
though  that  day's  march  was  a  very  slight  task  for  me,  but 
I  felt  that  after  what  we  had  seen  silence  became  me  best. 
It  was  dark  long  before  we  rode  into  Cedar  Crossing,  and 
Grace  was  worn-out  when  I  helped  her  from  the  saddle. 
Miss  Carrington  apparently  found  some  difficulty  in  straight- 
ening herself,  and  when  Calvert  had  installed  them  in  the 
one  second-rate  hotel,  after  a  visit  to  an  acquaintance  there, 
I  sat  smoking  beneath  a  hemlock  most  of  the  night  keeping 
guard  over  it.  This  was,  of  course,  palpably  absurd;  but 
I  was  young,  and  from  early  ages  many  others  have  done 
much  the  same,  while,  though  it  seems  the  fashion  to  despise 
all  sentiment  now,  it  is  probable  that  future  generations  will 
show  traces  of  equal  foolishness. 

We  finished  the  journey  on  the  third  day,  but  I  did  not 
see  Colonel  Carrington.  He  was  busy  at  the  mine,  and  it 
was  not  worth  while  wasting  precious  time  in  the  really 


162      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

comfortable  ranch  he  had  hired,  awaiting  his  return  for  the 
mere  pleasure  of  exchanging  greetings  with  him,  while  Grace 
was  far  too  tired  to  entertain  anybody. 

Calvert  looked  awkward  when  he  shook  hands  with  me. 
"  I  don't  quite  know  how  to  put  it,"  he  said,  "  but  you 
will  understand  we  can't  take  you  away  several  days  from 
your  work  gratuitously,  and  all  transport  is  charged  to  the 
Syndicate.  Being  a  trained  engineer,  I'm  working  manager, 
and,  as  a  matter  of  business,  what  do  I  owe  you?  " 

"  Nothing!  "  I  answered  shortly.  "  I  could  take  no  pay- 
ment for  assisting  Miss  Carrington.  If  you  like,  you  can 
send  five  dollars  to  the  Vancouver  hospital/' 

"  I  trust  we'll  be  friends"  said  Calvert.  "  Hope  I  didn't 
offend  you.  Meant  it  in  the  best  of  faith.  I'm  coming 
round  to  see  you,  and  whenever  you  have  leisure  you  must 
look  upon  my  quarters  yonder  as  your  own." 

I  rode  back  wondering  whether  the  work  had  suffered 
during  my  absence,  though  I  knew  my  partners  would  not 
complain,  and  when  I  reached  camp  Harry  said: 

"  I  hardly  thought  we'd  set  up  as  packers,  but  in  the 
meantime  all  is  fish  that  comes  to  our  net.  I'm  getting 
quite  a  mercenary  character.  You  had  a  long  journey  — 
how  much  did  you  get?" 

"  Nothing,"  I  answered,  "  except  a  gift  of  five  dollars 
for  the  Vancouver  hospital.     It  was  Miss  Carrington." 

Harry  made  no  articulate  comment  at  first,  though  his 
whistle,  which  from  any  one  else  would  have  been  imperti- 
nence, was  eloquent,  while  some  moments  elapsed  before  he 
spoke. 

"  Then  it's  Colonel  Carrington  who  is  running  the  Day 
Spring  mine.  I've  heard  the  free  prospectors  talking  about 
the  new  Syndicate.  They  opine  there's  nothing  in  it,  and 
that  somebody  is  going  to  be  hard  hit." 


CHAPTER  XV 

UNDER  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH 

TN  spite  of  the  many  new  hands  who  flocked  in  with  the 
spring,  the  line  progressed  slowly.  This  was  quite  com- 
prehensible, and  when  I  traveled  over  it  afterward  as  a  pas- 
senger I  wondered  how  we  had  ever  built  it  at  all.  Portions 
were  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  of  a  hardness  that  was 
often  too  much  for  our  most  carefully  tempered  drills ;  others 
were  underpinned  with  timber  against  the  mountain  side,  or 
carried  across  deep  ravines  on  open  trestles;  while  much  of 
it  had  to  be  roofed  in  by  massive  sheds,  so  that  the  snow- 
slides  might  not  hurl  it  into  the  valley. 

On  several  occasions  we  were  almost  checkmated  in 
our  efforts  to  supply  and  clear  a  way  for  the  builders. 
There  was,  of  course,  no  lack  of  timber,  but  the  difficulty 
was  to  get  it  out  of  the  forest  and  into  position,  for  we 
often  spent  days  building  skidways  or  hewing  roads  to  bring 
the  great  logs  down,  after  which  it  cost  us  even  a  longer 
time  rigging  gear  to  lower  them  over  dangerous  ledges  to 
those  who  worked  below.  Still,  we  made  progress,  and  the 
free  miners  or  forest  ranchers  who  trudged  behind  their 
weary  pack-horses  down  the  trail  that  crossed  the  track  en- 
couraged us  in  their  own  fashion,  which  was  at  times  slightly 
eccentric;  while  now  and  then  a  party  of  citizens  from  the 
struggling  town  rode  over  to  inspect  the  new  road  they 
hoped  would  do  so  much  for  them. 

Sometimes  they  brought  small  presents  with  them,  and 
I  remember  one  who  watched  our  efforts  admiringly  said: 

163 


164       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  You  must  be  clearing  your  little  pile  by  the  way  you're 
rustling,"  and  looked  blankly  incredulous  when  I  answered : 
"  No ;  we're  only  trying  to  pay  back  other  men  their  own." 

Nevertheless,  on  occasions  when  the  work  was  suspended 
temporarily,  I  made  a  two  days'  journey  to  Colonel  Car- 
rington's  ranch,  and  spent  a  few  blissful  hours  there  beneath 
the  cedars  with  his  sister  and  Grace.  Both  seemed  pleased 
to  see  me,  and  I  managed  to  console  myself  for  the  absence 
of  the  Colonel  and  Ormond.  They  returned  at  sunset, 
when  I  took  my  departure,  and  even  Ormond  was  usually 
disreputable  of  aspect.  Many  difficulties  were  connected 
with  the  development  of  the  Day  Spring  mine,  and  when 
there  was  need  for  it  Ormond  showed  himself  a  capable  man 
of  action.  Night  and  day  the  freighters  met  him  riding 
along  the  heavy  trails,  hurrying  in  tools  and  supplies,  and 
the  shaft-sinkers  said  that  he  was  always  foremost  when 
there  was  risky  work  to  be  done.  Once  also,  when  I  sat 
smoking  in  Calvert's  shanty,  the  latter,  who  was  freely 
smeared  with  the  green  mountain  clay,  said: 

"  We  are  none  of  us  exactly  idlers,  but  Geoffrey  Ormond 
is  tireless.  In  fact,  I  hardly  recognize  him  as  the  same  man, 
and  it  is  just  as  well.  We  have  sunk  a  good  deal  in  this 
undertaking,  and  it  will  go  hard  with  some  of  the  Syndicate 
if  we  don't  get  out  rich  quartz.  Ormond  in  particular 
invested,  I  think,  almost  recklessly.  He's  a  distant  connec- 
tion of  our  leader's,  you  know,  and  it's  probable  he's  hoping 
for  Miss  Carrington's  hand.  There's  no  doubt  that  the 
irascible  Colonel  would  be  glad  to  have  him  for  a  son-in-law, 
and  he  is  really  a  very  good  fellow,  but  I'm  not  sure  that 
Miss  Carrington  likes  him  —  in  that  way." 

Here  Calvert  flicked  the  ash  off  his  cigar,  and  looked  at 
me  before  he  continued :  "  It's  not  my  business,  and  perhaps 
I'm  gossiping,  but  Colonel  Carrington  is  not  addicted  to 
changing  his  mind,  and  I  anticipate  a  dramatic  climax  some 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH  165 

day.  In  any  case,  she  will  never  with  his  consent  marry  a 
poor  man.  You  can  take  my  word  for  it  —  I'm  speaking 
feelingly. " 

When,  after  exchanging  a  few  words  of  cold  politeness 
with  the  Colonel,  I  rode  homeward  the  next  morning  I 
wondered  whether  Calvert,  who  certainly  was  not  given  to 
gossiping,  had  intended  this  as  a  friendly  warning.  Every 
one  in  their  own  manner  seemed  bent  on  warning  me,  and 
yet,  as  long  as  Grace  remained  Miss  Carrington,  I  could 
not  give  up  hope,  and  it  was  that  very  hope  that  added  force 
to  every  stroke  of  the  glinting  axe  or  another  hour  of  toil  to 
the  weary  day.  And  so,  while  spring  melted  into  summer, 
I  worked  and  waited  until  fate  intervened. 

Now  between  the  mining  town  and  Cedar  the  river  loses 
itself  in  a  gloomy  canon,  one  of  those  awful  gorges  which 
are  common  among  the  mountains  of  British  Columbia. 
Two  great  rocks  partly  close  the  entrance,  and  beyond  this 
the  chasm  is  veiled  in  spray,  while  its  roar  when  the  floods 
race  through  it  can  be  heard  several  miles  away.  Scarcely 
a  ray  of  sunlight  enters  its  shadowy  depths,  and  looking  up 
from  beside  the  entrance  one  can  see  the  great  pines  that 
crown  the  sheer  fall  of  rock  looming  against  the  skyline  in 
a  slender  lace-like  filigree.  Sometimes,  when  frost  bound 
fast  the  feeding  snows,  the  Siwash  Indians  ran  their  light 
canoes  through,  but  I  never  heard  of  a  white  man  attempting 
the  passage,  and  one  glance  was  sufficient  to  show  the  reason. 
I  understood  it  better  when  as  by  a  miracle  I  came  alive  out 
of  the  canon. 

It  was  a  still  evening,  and  again  the  afterglow  flamed 
behind  the  western  pines,  when,  holding  Caesar's  rein,  I  stood 
under  a  hemlock  talking  to  Grace  Carrington.  We  had 
been  compelled  to  wait  for  more  ironwork,  and  I  made  the 
long  journey  on  the  specious  excuse  of  visiting  a  certain 
blacksmith  who  was  skilled  in  sharpening  tools.     Calvert's 


166       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

offer  of  hospitality  was  now  proving  an  inestimable  boon. 
Harry  pointed  out  that  we  had  a  man  in  camp  who  could  do 
the  work  equally  well,  but  I  found  a  temporary  deafness 
convenient  then. 

"  It  was  very  kind  of  you  to  suggest  it,  and  if  you  could 
get  the  things  in  by  your  supply  train  we  should  be  very 
glad,"  she  said.  "  I  really  do  not  know  whom  to  write  to, 
and  the  pack-horse  freighters  often  wet  or  spoil  them. 
Aunt  and  I  intend  to  spend  a  few  days  at  the  Lawrences* 
ranch,  and  you  could  meet  us  with  the  package  at  the 
canon  crossing  on  Thursday  morning." 

I  glanced  at  the  list  she  handed  me,  and  wondered  what 
Harry,  who  had  to  visit  Vancouver,  would  say  when  he 
found  I  had  pledged  him  to  ransack  the  dry-goods  stores  for 
all  kinds  of  fabrics.  Still,  I  felt  I  should  have  faced  much 
more  than  my  comrades'  remonstrances  to  please  Grace 
Carrington  then,  as  she  stood  beside  me,  glorified  as  it  were 
by  the  garish  sunset. 

"  My  aunt  will  be  especially  grateful/'  she  added.  "  And 
now,  good-bye.  She  will  never  forgive  you  if  you  damage 
her  new  dress." 

She  spoke  with  a  half-mocking  and  wholly  bewitching 
air,  for  when  Grace  unbent  she  did  it  charmingly,  holding 
out  a  shapely  hand,  while  the  light  sparkled  among  the 
glossy  clusters  above  her  forehead.  Grace's  hair  might 
have  been  intended  for  a  net  in  which  to  catch  stray  sunshine. 
Then  while  I  prepared  to  take  up  the  challenge  the  slender 
fingers  tightened  on  my  own. 

"What  was  that?"  she  asked  with  a  start,  for  a  wild 
shrill  cry  rang  suddenly  out  of  the  stillness,  and  the  hillside 
returned  the  sound  in  a  doleful  wailing  before  it  died  away. 

"  Only  a  loon,  a  water-bird !  "  I  said,  though  the  cry 
had  also  startled  me. 

Grace  shivered  as  she  answered :  "  I  have  never  heard  it 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH  167 

before,  and  it  sounded  so  unearthly  —  almost  like  a  warning 
of  some  evil.  But  it  is  growing  late,  and  you  have  far  to  go. 
I  shall  expect  you  at  the  crossing." 

She  turned  back  toward  the  house,  and  I  laughed  at 
my  momentary  confusion  as  I  rode  on  through  the  deepen- 
ing shadow,  for  though  it  is  strangely  mournful  the  loon's 
shrill  call  was  nothing  unusual  in  that  land.  Still,  mere 
coincidence  as  it  was,  remembering  Grace's  shiver  it  troubled 
me,  and  I  should  have  been  more  uneasy  had  I  known  how 
we  were  to  keep  that  fateful  tryst. 

It  wras  a  glorious  morning  when,  with  a  package  strapped 
to  the  saddle,  I  rode  down  between  the  pine  trunks  to  the 
crossing.  The  river  flashed  like  burnished  silver  below,  and 
the  sunlight  made  colored  haloes  in  the  filmy  spray  that 
drifted  about  the  black  mouth  of  the  canon,  while  rising 
and  falling  in  thunderous  cadence  the  voice  of  many  wateA*s 
rang  forth  from  its  gloomy  depths.  The  package  was  a 
heavy  one,  for  there  were  many  domestic  sundries  as  well  as 
yards  of  dry-goods  packed  within  it,  and  Harry  assured  me 
it  had  taken  him  a  whole  day  to  procure  them,  adding  that 
he  was  doubtful  even  then  whether  he  had  satisfactorily 
filled  the  bill. 

I  had  loitered  some  time  on  the  hillside  until  I  could 
see  the  party  winding  down  the  opposite  slope.  Then  the 
forest  hid  them,  and  it  appeared  that,  perhaps  because  the 
waters  were  high,  they  were  not  going  straight  to  the  usual 
ford,  but  intended  first  to  send  the  ladies  across  in  a  canoe 
which  lay  lower  down  near  a  slacker  portion  of  the  rapid 
stream.  The  slope  on  my  own  side  was  steep,  but,  picking 
my  way  cautiously,  I  was  not  far  above  the  river,  which 
boiled  in  a  succession  of  white-ridged  rapids,  when  I  saw 
Grace  seat  herself  in  the  stern  of  the  canoe,  which  Ormond 
thrust  off  until  it  was  nearly  afloat.  Then  he  returned  for 
her  aunt,  while  Colonel  Carrington  and  rancher  Lawrence 


168       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

led  the  horses  toward  the  somewhat  risky  ford  up-stream. 
The  river  was  swollen  by  melting  snow,  and  it  struck  me 
that  they  would  have  some  difficulty  in  crossing. 

Then  a  hoarse  shout  rang  out,  "  The  canoe's  adrift !" 
followed  by  another  from  the  Colonel,  "  Get  hold  of  the 
paddle,  Grace!  —  for  your  life  paddle!" 

It  had  all  happened  in  a  moment.  Doubtless  some  slight 
movement  on  the  girl's  part  had  set  the  light  Indian  craft 
afloat,  and  for  another  second  or  two  I  stared  aghast  upon 
a  scene  that  is  indelibly  impressed  on  my  memory.  There 
was  Ormond  scrambling  madly  among  the  boulders,  tearing 
off  his  jacket  as  he  ran,  Colonel  Carrington  struggling  with 
a  startled  horse,  and  his  sister  standing  rigid  and  still, 
apparently  horror-stricken,  against  the  background  of  somber 
pines.  Then  forest  and  hillside  melted  away,  and  while 
my  blood  grew  chill  I  saw  only  a  slender  white-robed  figure 
in  the  stern  of  the  canoe,  which  was  sliding  fast  toward  the 
head  of  the  tossing  rapid  that  raced  in  a  mad  seething 
into  the  canon. 

Then  I  smote  the  horse,  gripped  the  rein,  and  we  were 
off  at  a  flying  gallop  down  the  declivity.  A  branch  lashed 
my  forehead,  sweeping  my  hat  away;  for  an  instant  some- 
thing warm  dimmed  my  vision,  and  as  I  raised  one  hand 
to  dash  it  away  a  cry  that  had  a  note  of  agony  in  it  came 
ringing  down  the  valley. 

"  Make  for  the  eddy,  Grace!    For  heaven's  sake,  paddle!  " 

How  Caesar  kept  his  footing  I  do  not  know.  The  gravel 
was  rattling  behind  us,  the  trunks  reeled  by,  and  the  rushing 
water  seemed  flying  upward  toward  me.  Even  now  I  do 
not  think  I  had  any  definite  plan,  and  it  was  only  blind 
instinct  that  prompted  me  to  head  down-stream  diagonally 
to  cut  off  the  approaching  canoe;  but  I  answered  the 
Colonel's  shout  with  an  excited  cry,  and  drove  the  horse 
headlong  at  a  shelf  of  rock.     I  felt  his  hoofs  slipping  on 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH  169 

its  mossy  covering,  there  was  a  strident  clang  of  iron  on 
stone,  and  then  with  a  sudden  splash  we  were  in  the  torrent 
together.  Caesar  must  have  felt  the  bottom  beneath  him  a 
moment  or  two,  for  I  had  time  to  free  my  feet  from  the 
stirrups  before  he  was  swimming  gallantly;  but  one  cannot 
take  a  horse  on  board  a  birch-bark  canoe,  and  the  light 
shell  shot  down  the  green  and  white-streaked  rush  toward 
me  even  as  I  flung  myself  out  of  the  saddle.  And,  staring 
forward  with  drawn-back  lips  and  eyes  wide  open,  I  could 
see  the  white  face  in  the  stern. 

Thanking  Providence  that  I  could  swim  well,  I  swung 
my  left  arm  forward  with  hollowed  palm,  and  shot  away 
from  the  beast  with  head  half-buried  under  the  side-stroke's 
impetus,  making  a  fierce  effort  to  gain  the  center  of  the 
flow  in  time.  Something  long  and  dark  swept  past  me. 
With  an  inarticulate  gasp  of  triumph  I  seized  it,  managed 
to  fall  in  head  foremost  over  the  stem,  which  in  a  tender 
craft  of  that  beam  is  a  difficult  thing  to  do,  and  then,  snatch- 
ing the  second  paddle,  whirled  it  madly.  I  felt  the  stout 
redwood  bend  at  every  stroke,  my  lungs  seemed  bursting, 
and  there  was  a  mist  before  my  eyes,  but  it  was  borne  in  on 
me  that  I  had  come  too  late,  and  that  already  no  earthly 
power  could  snatch  us  from  the  canon. 

Hemlock  and  boulder,  stream-hammered  reef  and  pine, 
flitted  by,  closing  in  on  one  another  along  the  half-seen 
shore.  The  river  frothed  white  about  us  in  steep  boiling 
ridges  as  it  raced  down  the  incline,  and  nearer  and  nearer 
ahead  tossed  the  ghostly  spray  cloud  that  veiled  the  mouth 
of  the  chasm.  As  we  lurched  broadside  to  the  rapid  each 
steeper  liquid  upheaval  broke  into  the  canoe;  for  every  foot 
I  won  shoreward  the  stream  swept  us  sideways  two;  and 
when,  grasping  the  pole,  I  thrust  against  a  submerged  boulder 
with  all  my  strength,  the  treacherous  redwood  snapped  in 
half.     Then    there    was    a    bewildering    roar,    a    blinding 


170      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

shower  of  spray,  and  we  were  out  upon  the  short  slide  of 
glassy  green  water  which  divided  the  tail  of  the  rapid  from 
the  mouth  of  the  canon.  As  I  flung  away  the  broken  pole 
and  groped  for  the  paddle  I  saw  with  eyes  that  were  clouded 
by  blood  and  sweat  Grace  raise  her  hand  as  though  in  a 
last  farewell,  and  then  as  she  faced  round  once  more  our 
glances  met.  She  said  no  word.  I  could  not  have  heard 
if  she  had,  for  all  sound  was  swallowed  up  in  one  great 
pulsating  diapason;  but  she  afterward  said  that  she  felt 
impelled  to  look  at  me,  and  knew  that  I  would  turn  my 
head.  And  so  for  an  instant,  there  where  the  barriers  of 
caste  and  wealth  had  melted  away  before  the  presence  of 
death,  our  two  souls  met  in  a  bond  that  should  never  be 
broken. 

Now  there  are  occasions ,  when  even  the  weakest  seem 
endowed  with  a  special  strength,  while  a  look  of  blind 
confidence  from  the  woman  he  loves  is  capable  of  trans- 
forming almost  any  man,  and  I  knew  in  the  exaltation  of 
that  moment,  for  my  own  sake,  I  had  no  fear  of  death.  If 
I  could  not  save  her,  I  felt  it  would  be  a  good  end  to  go 
down  into  the  green  depths  attempting  it. 

Then  the  canoe  lurched  forward  half  its  length  clear  of 
the  water,  a  white  haze  eddied  about  us,  the  sunlight  went 
out,  and  we  were  in  the  canon,  shooting  down  the  mad  rush 
of  a  rapid  toward  eternity.  I  plied  the  paddle  my  hardest  to 
keep  the  frail  craft  head  on,  that  she  might  not  roll  over  by 
sheering  athwart  the  stream,  not  because  I  had  any  hope 
of  escape,  but  that  it  seemed  better  to  go  under  fighting. 
The  work  was  severe  enough,  as,  not  having  learned  the 
back-feather  under  water,  I  must  dip  the  blade  on  either 
side  alternately,  while  each  time  that  I  dare  turn  my  eyes 
backward  a  moment  the  sight  of  Grace  kneeling  with  set 
white  face  in  the  stern  further  strengthened  me.  The  pace 
grew  a  little  easier  as  we  drew  out  into  a  somewhat  slacker 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH  171 

flow,  and  I  made  shift  with  an  empty  fruit-can  to  free  the 
craft  of  water,  until  Grace  spoke,  and  her  words  reached 
me  brokenly  through  the  deeper  growling  of  the  river: 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  any  chance  of  safety?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  answered  stoutly,  though  it  is  probable  my  voice 
belied  me.  It  was  so  strained  I  could  hardly  recognize  it. 
"  The  canoe  may  keep  afloat  until  we  reach  the  other  end, 
or  perhaps  we  can  find  a  bar  to  land  on  and  climb  up  some- 
where." Then  I  felt  glad  that  my  shoulders  were  turned 
toward  her  as  she  said: 

"  I  am  afraid  it  is  a  very  small  one.  There  is  a  fall  and 
a  whirlpool  ahead,  and  no  one  could  climb  that  awful 
precipice  —  look !  " 

The  canoe  was  shooting  onward  through  dim  shadow 
very  fast  but  more  steadily,  and  raising  my  eyes  from  the 
dull  green  water  before  us  —  these  craft  are  always  paddled 
with  one's  face  toward  the  bow  —  I  looked  about  me  hope- 
lessly. In  these  days  of  easy  travel  there  are  doubtless 
many  who  have  from  a  securely  railed-ofjf  platform  gazed 
down  into  the  black  depths  of  a  Pacific  Slope  canon  upon  a 
river  that  seems  a  narrow  thread  in  the  great  gulf  below. 
These  will  have  some  idea  of  what  I  saw,  but  they  may 
take  the  word  of  one  who  knows,  which  is  easier  than  making 
the  experiment,  that  such  places  look  very  much  worse 
from  the  bottom.  Those  who  have  not  may  try  to  picture 
tremendous  —  and  the  word  is  used  with  its  amplest  sig- 
nificance—  walls  of  slightly  overhanging  rock,  through 
which  aided  by  grinding  boulders  and  scoring  shingle,  the 
river  has  widened  as  well  as  deepened  its  channel  a  little 
every  century,  while  between  the  white  welter  at  their  feet 
lies  a  breadth  of  troubled  green  where  the  stream  flows 
heaped  up,  as  it  were,  in  the  center. 

In  places  it  roared  in  filmy  wreaths  about  a  broken  mass 
of   stone   that   cumbered    the   channel,   but   elsewhere   the 


172       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

hollowed  sides,  upon  which  the  smallest  clawed  creature 
could  not  have  found  a  foothold,  had  been  worn  down  into 
a  smooth  slipperiness. 

"  It  is  all  so  horrible,"  said  Grace,  bending  back  her  head, 
so  that  as  I  glanced  over  my  shoulder  I  could  see  her  firm 
white  neck  through  the  laces  as  she  stared  upward  at  the 
streak  of  blue  sky  so  far  above.  Then  she  turned  her  face 
toward  me  again,  and  it  seemed  to  my  excited  fancy  that  it 
had  grown  ethereal. 

"  We  may  pass  the  whirlpool,  and  —  if  not  —  death  can 
come  no  harder  here  than  in  any  other  place, "  she  added. 

I  tried  to  answer,  and  failed  miserably,  feeling  glad  that 
an  increasing  tumult  covered  my  silence,  for  I  could  not 
drive  out  a  horrible  picture  of  that  fair  face  with  the  gold 
bronze  hair  swept  in  long  wet  wisps  across  it  washing  out, 
frozen  still  forever,  into  the  sunlit  valley,  or  the  soft  hands 
I  should  have  given  a  life  to  kiss  clutching  in  a  last  vain 
agony  at  the  cruel  stones  which  mocked  them.  Then  I 
set  my  teeth,  clenching  the  paddle  until  each  muscle  swelled 
as  though  it  would  burst  the  skin,  and,  with  something  that 
was  divided  between  an  incoherent  prayer  and  an  impreca- 
tion upon  my  lips,  I  determined  that  if  human  flesh  and 
blood  could  save  her  she  should  not  perish. 

The  roar  of  water  grew  louder  and  louder,  rolling  in 
reverberations  along  the  scarped  rock's  side,  until  it  seemed 
as  if  the  few  dwarf  pines  which  clung  in  odd  crannies  here 
and  there  trembled  in  unison,  and  once  more  the  white 
smoke  of  a  fall  or  rapid  rose  up  close  before  us.  Then  I 
could  see  the  smooth  lip  of  the  cataract  held  apart,  as 
it  were,  by  one  curved  glittering  ripple  from  the  tumult 
beneath,  and  I  remembered  having  heard  the  Indian  packers 
say  that  when  shooting  a  low  fall  one  has  only  to  keep  the 
craft  straight  before  the  current,  which  is  not  always  easy, 
and  let  her  go. 


UNDER  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH  173 

"  Sit  quite  still,  Grace/'  I  cried.  "  If  the  canoe  upsets  I 
will  at  once  take  hold  of  you.  We  shall  know  the  worst  in 
another  few  minutes  now." 

Her  lips  moved  a  little,  and  though  I  heard  no  words  I 
fancied  it  was  a  prayer,  then  I  turned  my  head  forward  and 
prepared  for  the  struggle.  I  had  small  skill  in  handling 
canoes,  but  I  had  more  than  average  strength,  and  felt 
thankful  for  it  as,  lifting  the  light  cedar  at  every  wrench- 
ing stroke,  I  drove  it  toward  the  fall.  Then  a  whirling 
mist  shot  up,  there  was  a  deep  booming  in  my  ears,  the 
canoe  leaped  out  as  into  mid-air,  and  I  could  feel  her  dropping 
bodily  from  beneath  us.  A  heavy  splash  followed,  water 
was  flying  everywhere,  and  a  boiling  wave  lapped  in,  but 
the  paddle  bent  under  my  hand,  and  breathless  and  half- 
blinded  we  shot  out  down  the  tail  rush  into  daylight  again. 
One  swift  glance  over  my  shoulder  showed  the  slanting 
spout  of  water  behind  Grace's  pallid  face.  The  fall  ap- 
parently must  have  been  more  than  a  fathom  in  three  yards 
or  so,  and  I  wondered  how  we  had  ever  come  down  it  alive. 

Then,  with  labored  breathing  and  heart  that  thumped 
painfully,  I  plied  the  paddle,  while  the  craft  swung  off  at  a 
tangent  across  the  dark  green  whirling  which,  marked  by 
white  concentric  rings,  swung  round  and  round  a  down- 
sucking  hollow  in  the  center.  Twice  we  shot  past  the 
latter,  and  had  time  to  notice  how  a  battered  log  of  drift- 
wood tilted  endways  and  went  down,  but  as  on  the  second 
revolution  we  swept  toward  a  jutting  fang  of  quartz  I  made 
a  fierce  effort,  because  here  the  stream  had  piled  a  few 
yards  of  shingle  against  the  foot  of  the  rock.  The  craft 
yielded  to  the  impulse  and  drove  lurching  among  the  back- 
wash. Then  there  followed  a  sickening  crash.  Water 
poured  in  deep  over  her  depressed  side  as  she  swayed 
downward  and  over,  and  the  next  moment,  with  one  hand  on 
the  ragged  quartz  and  another  gripping  Grace's  arm,  I  was 


174      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

struggling  in  the  stream.  Fortunately  the  dress  fabric  held, 
and  my  failing  strength  was  equal  to  the  strain,  for  I  found 
a  foothold,  and  crawled  out  upon  the  shingle,  dragging  her 
after  me.  Then  rising,  I  lurched  forward  and  went  down 
headforemost  with  a  clatter  among  the  stones,  where  I  lay 
fighting  hard  for  breath  and  overcome  by  the  revulsion  of 
relief,  though  it  may  have  been  the  mere  physical  over- 
pressure on  heart  and  lungs  that  had  prostrated  me. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

WHEN  THE  WATERS  ROSE 

PRESENTLY,  while  I  lay  upon  the  shingle  panting,  a 
wet  hand  touched  my  head,  and  looking  up  with  daz- 
zled eyes  I  saw  Grace  bending  down  beside  me.  The  water 
drained  from  her  garments,  she  was  shivering,  but  at  least 
she  had  suffered  no  injury. 

"Ralph!  Ralph!  tell  me  you  are  not  hurt!"  she  said, 
and  something  in  her  voice  and  eyes  thrilled  me  through, 
but,  though  I  struggled  to  do  so,  I  could  not  as  yet  over- 
come the  weakness,  and  lay  still,  no  doubt  a  ghastly  half- 
drowned  object,  with  the  blood  from  the  wound  the  branch 
made  trickling  down  my  forehead,  until  stooping  further 
she  laid  her  hand  on  my  shoulder,  and  there  was  more 
than  compassion  in  the  eyes  that  regarded  me  so  anxiously. 

Then,  slowly,  power  and  speech  came  back  together, 
and  covering  the  slender  fingers  with  kisses  I  staggered  to 
my  feet. 

"Thank  God,  you  are  safe!"  I  said,  "and  whatever 
happens,  I  have  saved  you.  You  will  forgive  me  this  last 
folly,  but  all  the  rest  was  only  a  small  price  to  pay  for  it." 

She  did  not  answer,  though  for  a  moment  the  hot  blood 
suffused  her  cheek,  and  I  stood  erect,  still  dazed  and  bewil- 
dered —  for  the  quartz  reef  had  cruelly  bruised  me  —  glanc- 
ing round  in  search  of  the  canoe.  Failing  to  find  it,  I  again 
broke  out  gratefully: 

"  Thank  heaven,  you  are  safe !  " 

Grace  leaned  against  a  boulder.  "  Sit  down  on  that 
175 


176      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ledge.  You  have  not  quite  recovered,"  she  said;  and  I 
was  glad  to  obey,  for  my  limbs  were  shaky,  and  the  power 
of  command  was  born  in  her.  Then  with  a  sigh  she  added 
very  slowly:  "  I  fear  you  are  premature.  Still,  I  think  you 
are  a  brave  man,  and  no  Carrington  was  ever  a  coward. 
Look  around  and  notice  the  level,  and  remember  the  daily 
rise." 

Stupidly  I  blinked  about  me,  trying  to  collect  my  scat- 
tered wits.  The  strip  of  shingle  stood  perhaps  a  foot  above 
the  river  and  was  only  a  few  yards  wide.  In  front,  the 
horrible  eddy  lapped  upon  the  pebbles  at  each  revolving 
swirl,  and  behind  us  rose  a  smooth  wall  of  rock  absolutely 
unclimbable,  even  if  it  had  not  overhung.  That,  however, 
was  not  the  worst,  for  a  numbing  sense  of  dismay,  colder 
far  than  the  chilly  snow-water,  crept  over  me  as  I  re- 
membered that  most  mountain  streams  in  British  Columbia 
rise  and  fall  several  feet  daily.  They  are  lowest  in  early 
morning,  because  at  night  the  frost  holds  fast  the  drainage 
of  snow-field  and  glacier  which  feeds  them  on  the  peaks 
above;  then,  as  the  sun  unchains  the  waters,  they  increase 
in  volume,  so  that  many  a  ford  which  a  man  might  pass 
knee-deep  at  dawn  is  swept  by  roaring  flood  before  the  close 
of  afternoon. 

"  Watch  that  stone,"  said  Grace  with  a  stately  calmness, 
though  first  she  seemed  to  choke  down  some  obstruction  in 
her  throat.  "  There !  the  last  wash  has  buried  it,  and  when 
we  landed  the  one  with  the  red  veins  —  it  is  covered  several 
inches  now  —  was  bare." 

A  sudden  fury  seized  me,  and  raising  a  clenched  hand 
aloft  I  ground  my  heels  into  the  shingle,  while  Grace  looked 
on  pityingly. 

"  I  was  almost  afraid  to  mention  it  at  first,"  she  said. 
"I  —  I  hoped  you  would  take  it  differently." 

Then   at   last   I    began   to   understand   clearly.     I    flung 


WHEN  THE  WATERS  ROSE  177 

back  my  head  as  I  answered :  "  It  is  not  for  my  own  mis- 
erable safety  that  I  care  one  atom.  Neither  if  we  had  gone 
down  together  in  the  fall  would  it  have  seemed  so  hard; 
but  after  bringing  you  in  safety  so  far  it  is  horrible  to  be 
held  helpless  here  while  inch  by  inch  the  waters  rise.  Great 
God!  is  there  nothing  I  can  do?  Grace,  if  I  had  ten  lives 
I  would  gladly  give  them  all  to  save  you !  " 

Again  the  tell-tale  color  flickered  in  her  face;  then  it 
vanished,  and  her  voice  shook  a  little. 

"  I  believe  you,"  she  answered.  "  Indeed,  it  seems  only 
too  probable  that  you  gave  up  one  when  you  leaped  the 
poor  horse  into  the  river.  It  was  done  very  gallantly,  and 
now  you  must  wait  as  gallantly  for  what  that  great  God 
sends." 

She  seemed  so  young  and  winsome  and  beautiful  that 
suddenly  in  place  of  rage  a  great  pity  came  upon  me,  and  I 
think  my  eyes  grew  dim,  for  Grace  looked  at  me  very 
gently  as  she  added :  "  No ;  death  comes  to  all  of  us  some 
time,  and  you  must  not  grieve  for  me." 

But  because  I  was  young  and  the  full  tide  of  lusty  life 
pulsed  within  me,  I  could  not  bear  to  think  of  what  must 
follow.  Again,  it  seemed  beyond  human  comprehension 
that  she,  the  incarnation  of  all  that  was  fair  and  lovable, 
must  perish  so  miserably,  and  once  more  I  had  to  struggle 
hard  to  restrain  a  fresh  outbreak  of  impotent  fury.  Pres- 
ently, however,  her  great  fortitude  infected  me,  and  with  the 
calmness  it  brought  there  came  a  feeling  that  I  must  tell  her 
all  now  or  never.  Nevertheless,  I  "felt  that  she  knew  it 
already,  for  one  glance  had  made  many  things  manifest  when 
we  first  entered  the  canon. 

"  Grace,"  I  said  huskily,  "  I  want  you  to  listen  while  I 
answer  a  question  which,  without  speaking,  you  asked  me  — 
Why  should  I,  a  rough  railroad  contractor,  esteem  it  an 
inestimable  privilege  to  freely  lay  down  my  life  for  you? 


178      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

It  is  only  because  I  love  you,  and  have  done  so  from  the 
day  we  talked  together  on  Starcross  Moor  —  it  seems  so  long 
ago.  Listen  yet.  I  meant  never  to  have  told  you  until  I 
had  won  the  right  to  do  so,  and  had  something  to  offer  the 
heiress  of  Carrington,  and  I  fought  hard  for  it,  toiling  late 
and  early,  with  a  dead  weight  of  adverse  fortune  against 
me;  but  all  that  was  little  when  every  blow  was  struck  for 
your  sweet  sake.  And,  if  you  had  chosen  another,  I  should 
have  kept  my  secret,  and  prayed  that  you  might  be  happy. 
Now  when,  so  far  as  worldly  rank  goes,  we  stand  as  equals 
in  the  valley  of  death,  I  dare  open  all  my  heart  to  you;  and, 
if  it  must  be,  I  should  ask  no  better  end  than  to  enter  eter- 
nity here  holding  your  hand." 

She  trembled  a  little,  great  tears  were  brimming  in  her 
eyes,  but  again  I  read  more  than  pity  or  sorrow  in  their 
liquid  depths,  and  the  next  moment  I  had  spread  my  wet 
arms  about  her  and  her  head  rested  on  my  shoulder.  There 
are  some  things  that  concern  but  two  souls  among  all  those 
on  earth,  and  the  low  answer  that  came  for  the  first  time 
falteringly  through  her  lips  is  to  be  numbered  among  them; 
but  a  little  later,  with  my  arm  still  about  her,  Grace  smiled 
up  at  me  wistfully  as  the  remorseless  waters  lapped  nearer. 

"  I  loved  you  because  you  were  steadfast  and  fearless,'' 
she  said.  "  Sweetheart,  it  will  not  be  so  hard  to  die  together 
now.  Do  you  know  this  is  all  a  part  of  the  strange  memo- 
ries, as  though  I  had  learned  somewhere  and  somehow  what 
was  to  be.  Either  in  dreams  or  a  mental  phantasy  I  saw 
you  riding  across  the  prairie  through  the  whirling  snow. 
When  you  strode  with  bronzed  face,  and  hard  hand  on  my 
bridle  through  the  forest,  that  was  familiar  too,  and  —  you 
remember  the  passage  about  Lancelot  —  I  knew  you  were 
my  own  true  knight.  But  this  is  not  the  last  of  the  dream 
forecasts  or  memories,  and  there  was  something  brighter 
beyond  it  I  could  not  grasp.     Perhaps  it  may  be  the  glories 


WHEN  THE  WATERS  ROSE  179 

of  the  hereafter.  I  wonder  whether  the  thought  was  born 
when  that  sunset  flamed  and  flashed  ?  " 

I  listened,  tightening  my  grasp  about  her  and  shivering 
a  little.  This  may  have  been  due  to  physical  cold,  or  a 
suggestion  of  the  supernatural;  but  Grace  spoke  without 
terror,  reverently,  and  ended: 

"  Ralph,  have  you  ever  thought  about  that  other  world? 
Shall  we  be  permitted  to  walk  hand  in  hand  through  the 
first  thick  darkness,  darling?" 

"  Don't!  "  I  cried,  choking.  "  You  shall  not  die.  Wait 
here  while  I  try  to  climb  round  those  boulders ;  there  might 
be  a  branch  that  would  float  us,  or  a  log  of  driftwood  in  a 
lower  eddy,"  and  leaving  her  I  managed  with  much  difficulty 
to  scale  a  few  great  water-worn  masses  that  had  fallen  from 
above  and  shut  out  the  view  of  the  lower  river.  Still, 
though  I  eagerly  scanned  the  boulders  scattered  here  and 
there  along  the  opposite  bank,  there  was  only  foam  and  bat- 
tered stone,  and  at  last  I  flung  myself  down  dejectedly  on  a 
ledge.  I  dare  not  go  back  just  then  and  tell  her  that  the 
search  was  quite  hopeless,  and  it  may  have  been  inherited 
obstinacy,  but  I  would  not  own  myself  quite  beaten  yet. 
So  I  lay  watching  the  cruel  water  slide  past,  while  a  host 
of  impossible  schemes  flashed  through  my  bewildered  brain. 
They  all  needed  at  least  a  rope,  or  a  few  logs,  though  one 
might  have  been  rendered  feasible  by  a  small  crowbar.  But 
I  had  none  of  these  things. 

Meantime  a  few  white  cloudlets  drifted  across  the  rift 
of  blue  above,  and  a  cool  breadth  of  shadow  darkened  the 
pine  on  the  great  rocks.  Something  suggested  a  fringe 
of  smaller  firs  along  the  edge  of  a  moor  in  Lancashire, 
and  for  a  moment  my  thoughts  sped  back  to  the  little  gray- 
stone  church  under  the  Ling  Fell.  Then  a  slow  stately 
droning  swelled  into  a  measured  boom  and  I  wondered 
what  it  was,  until  it  flashed  on  me  that  this  was  a  funeraL 


180       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

march  I  had  once  heard  there  on  just  such  a  day;  and  it 
was  followed  by  a  voice  reading  something  faint  and  far 
away,  snatches  of  which  reached  me  brokenly,  "  In  the  sure 
and  certain  hope/'  and  again,  "  Blessed  are  the  dead." 

There  was,  perhaps,  a  reason  for  such  fancies,  though  I 
did  not  know  it  at  that  time,  for,  as  I  found  afterward  by 
the  deep  score  across  the  scalp,  my  head  must  have  been 
driven  against  the  stone  with  sufficient  violence  to  destroy 
forever  the  balance  of  a  less  thickly  covered  brain.  How- 
ever, it  could  not  have  lasted  more  than  a  few  moments 
before  I  knew  that  the  funeral  march  was  only  the  boom 
of  the  river,  and  if  I  would  not  have  it  as  sole  requiem  for 
one  who  was  dearer  far  than  life  to  me  I  must  summon  all 
my  powers  of  invention.  The  waters  had  risen  several 
inches  since  I  first  flung  myself  down.  Great  events  hang 
on  very  small  ones,  and  we  might  well  have  left  our  bones 
in  the  canon,  but  that  when  crawling  over  a  boulder  I  slipped 
and  fell  heavily,  and,  when  for  a  moment  I  lay  with  my 
head  almost  in  the  river,  I  could  see  from  that  level  some- 
thing in  the  eddy  behind  a  rock  on  the  further  shore  which 
had  remained  unnoticed  before. 

It  was  a  dark  object,  half-hidden  among  grinding  frag- 
ments of  driftwood  and  great  flakes  of  spume,  but  I  caught 
hard  at  my  breath  when  a  careful  scrutiny  showed  that 
beyond  all  doubt  it  was  the  overturned  canoe.  Still,  at 
first  sight,  it  seemed  beyond  the  power  of  flesh  and  blood  to 
reach  it.  The  rapid  would  apparently  sweep  the  strongest 
swimmer  down  the  canon,  while  the  revolving  pool  span 
suggestively  in  narrowing  circles  toward  the  deadly  vortex 
where  the  main  rush  from  the  fall  went  down.  Second 
thought,  however,  suggested  there  might  be  a  very  small 
chance  that  when  swept  round  toward  the  opposite  shore 
one  could  by  a  frantic  struggle  draw  clear  of  the  rotary 
swirl  into  the  downward  flow,  which  ran  more  slackly  close 


WHEN  THE  WATERS  ROSE  181 

under  the  bank.  I  came  back  and  explained  this  to  Grace, 
and  then  for  the  first  time  her  courage  gave  way. 

"  You  must  not  go,"  she  said.  "  No  one  could  swim 
through  that  awful  pool,  and  —  I  am  only  a  woman,  weak 
after  all  —  I  could  not  stay  here  and  see  you  drown.  Ralph, 
it  was  the  thought  of  having  you  beside  me  that  gave  me 
courage  —  you  must  not  leave  me  alone  to  the  river." 

"  It  is  our  last  chance,  sweetheart,"  I  said  very  slowly, 
"  and  we  dare  not  neglect  it,  but  I  will  make  a  promise.  If 
I  feel  my  strength  failing,  when  I  know  I  can  do  no  more, 
I  will  come  back  to  you.  Standing  here  you  could  reach 
my  hand  as  the  eddying  current  sweeps  me  round.  Now, 
wish  me  good  fortune,  darling." 

Grace  stooped  and  kissed  my  forehead,  for  even  as  I 
spoke  I  knelt  to  strip  off  the  long  boots.  This  was  no  time 
for  useless  ceremony.  Then  with  a  faint  ghost  of  a  blush 
she  added,  "  You  must  not  be  handicapped  —  fling  away 
your  jacket  and  whatever  would  hamper  you,"  after  which, 
standing  beside  me  at  the  edge  of  the  water,  she  said  very 
solemnly,  "  God  bless  and  keep  you,  Ralph." 

Then  I  whirled  both  hands  above  my  head,  leaped  out 
from  the  quartz  shelf,  and  felt  the  chilly  flood  part  before 
me  until,  instead  of  dull  green  transparency,  there  was 
daylight  about  me  again,  and  my  left  hand  swept  forward 
through  the  air  with  the  side-stroke  which  in  younger  days 
I  had  taken  much  pains  to  cultivate.  Now  there  was  the 
hardness  in  muscles  which  comes  from*  constant  toil  behind 
it,  besides  a  force  which  I  think  was  not  born  altogether  of 
bodily  strength,  and  even  then  I  could  almost  rejoice  to  feel 
the  water  sweep  past  me  a  clear  half-fathom  as  the  palm 
drove  backward  hollowed  to  the  hip,  while  the  river  boiled 
and  bubbled  under  my  partly  submerged  head.  But  I  swung 
right  around  the  eddy,  and  almost  under  the  tail  rush  of 
the  fall,  while  once  for  a  moment  I  caught  sight  of  Grace's 


182       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

intent  face  as,  husbanding  my  strength  for  a  few  seconds,  I 
passed  tossed  about  on  the  confused  welter  close  by  the 
quartz  shelf.  Then,  as  the  circling  waters  hurried  me  a 
second  time  round  and  outward  toward  the  further  shore, 
I  made  what  I  knew  must  be  the  last  effort,  made  it  with 
cracking  sinews  and  bursting  lungs,  and  drew  clear  by  a 
foot  or  two  of  the  eddy's  circumference.  A  few  more  strokes 
and  an  easy  paddling  carried  me  down-stream,  and  a  wild 
cry  of  triumph,  which  more  resembled  a  hoarse  cackle  than  a 
shout,  went  up  when  at  last  I  drew  myself  out  of  the  water 
beside  the  canoe. 

I  lay  on  the  cold  stone  breathing  hard  for  several  minutes ; 
then  I  managed  to  drag  the  light  shell  out  and  empty  her, 
after  which  I  tore  up  a  strip  of  the  cedar  flooring  to  form  a 
paddle,  and  found  that  though  one  side  was  crushed  the 
damage  was  mostly  above  flotation  level.  It  would  serve 
no  purpose  to  narrate  the  return  passage,  and  it  was  suffi- 
ciently arduous,  but  a  man  in  the  poorest  craft  with  a  paddle 
has  four  times  the  power  of  any  swimmer,  and  at  last  I 
reached  the  shingle,  which  was  almost  covered  now.  Grace 
stood  on  the  brink  to  meet  me  with  a  cry  of  heartfelt 
relief  when  I  ran  in  the  bows,  then  a  momentary  dizziness 
came  upon  me,  as,  all  dripping  as  I  was,  I  lifted  her  into  the 
stern.  After  I  thrust  off  the  craft,  and,  struggling  clear 
of  the  eddy,  we  shot  away  on  the  outgoing  stream,  she  smiled 
as  she  said: 

"It  wTas  splendidly  done!  Ralph,  is  it  foolish  —  I  once 
supposed  it  would  be  so  —  that  because  you  have  the  strength 
to  do  these  things  you  make  me  proud  of  you  ?  " 

There  is  little  more  to  tell,  and  that  passage  through 
the  canon  left  behind  it  an  unpleasant  memory.  Though 
it  was  rising  all  the  time,  the  stream  ran  more  evenly,  there 
were  no  more  cataracts  or  whirlpools,  and  while  Grace 
was  obliged  to  bail  hard  with  —  so  closely  does  burlesque 


WHEN  THE  WATERS  ROSE  183 

follow  on  tragedy  —  one  of  my  long  boots,  she  could  keep 
the  leaks  under.  I  did  my  best  with  the  paddle,  for  I 
could  see  the  tension  was  telling  on  her,  and  at  last  the 
great  rock  walls  fell  back  on  either  hand,  and  dwarf  pines 
and  juniper  climbed  the  less  precipitous  slopes,  until  these 
too  opened  out  into  a  wide  valley,  and  we  slid  forth  safely 
into  clear  sunlight.  Never  had  brightness  and  warmth  so 
rejoiced  me  as  they  did  after  the  cold  damp  horror  of  that 
passage  through  the  dark  rift  in  the  earth. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE    RETURN 

TT  was  James  Lawrence,  the  English  rancher,  and  Miss 
Carrington  who  told  me  what  happened  to  those  we  left 
behind  after  the  fateful  moment  when  the  canoe  first  slipped 
clear  of  the  shingle  bank.  Lawrence  accompanied  the  party 
on  their  return  journey,  and  it  was  he  who  suggested  sending 
Grace  and  Miss  Carrington  across  in  the  canoe.  The  river 
ran  high  that  morning,  and  he  felt  dubious  about  the  ford, 
because  several  pack-horses  had  already  been  drowned  there. 

The  first  intimation  he  had  of  anything  wrong  was  a 
cry  from  the  girl,  and  he  saw  a  strip  of  water  widen  between 
the  canoe  and  the  bank.  He  ran  his  hardest,  but  made 
little  headway,  for  thorny  bushes  and  fern  formed  thickets 
along  the  bank,  while  when  he  reached  the  boulders  he  felt 
that  he  had  come  too  late,  because  no  swimmer  could  then 
overtake  the  canoe,  even  if  he  escaped  destruction  in  the 
first  rapid  immediately  below.  Nevertheless,  after  a  glance 
at  the  drawn  face  of  the  girl,  which  haunted  him  long  after- 
ward, as  with  the  first  shock  of  terror  on  her  she  labored 
helplessly  at  the  paddle,  he  would  even  have  made  the  hope- 
less attempt  but  that  Colonel  Carrington,  who  of  all  the 
trio  had  retained  his  common  sense,  intervened.  It  was 
not  without  reason  that  the  Colonel  had  earned  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  hard  man. 

"Come  back!  Stop  him!  Geoffrey,  are  you  mad?" 
he  roared;  and  Lawrence,  who  had  now  recovered  his  wits, 
flung  himself  upon   a  man  wTho,   stripping  himself  to  the 

184 


THE  RETURN  185 

waist  as  he  ran,  floundered  at  break-neck  speed  among  the 
boulders.  They  went  down  together  heavily,  and  the  next 
moment  the  runner  had  him  by  the  throat,  hissing  through 
his  teeth,  "  Let  go,  you  fool,  before  I  murder  you !  " 

Lawrence  was  strong,  however,  and  held  fast  half-choked 
for  a  moment  or  two,  until  the  Colonel's  cry  reached  them 
again : 

"  Get  up,  Geoffrey,  you  lunatic!  Follow,  and  head  them 
off  along  the  bank!  " 

The  shouts  and  the  confusion  had  startled  his  restive 
horse,  and  by  the  time  he  had  mounted  the  pair  were  on 
their  feet  again  stumbling  over  the  boulders  or  smashing 
through  the  undergrowth  in  a  desperate  race,  with  the  horse 
blundering  behind  them  and  the  canoe  ahead.  They  might 
possibly  have  overtaken  it  except  for  the  rapid,  Lawrence 
said,  but  it  swept  like  a  toboggan  down  that  seething  rush, 
and,  as  realizing  that  it  was  almost  hopeless,  they  held  on, 
there  was  a  clatter  on  the  opposite  slope,  and  they  saw  me 
break  out  at  headlong  gallop  from  the  woods.  They  halted 
when  I  crawled  into  the  canoe,  for  we  were  beyond  all 
human  help  from  that  bank  now ;  and,  flinging  himself  from 
the  saddle,  Colonel  Carrington  stood  with  clenched  hands 
and  quivering  lips,  staring  after  us,  so  Lawrence  said,  out 
of  awful  eyes. 

"  Bravo !  "  he  gasped  at  length.  "  He'll  reach  the  gravel- 
spit.  Another  two  good  strokes  —  they're  almost  in  the 
eddy ;  "  but  the  next  words  were  frozen  on  his  lips,  for  the 
backwash  from  a  boulder  swept  away  the  bows  of  the  canoe, 
and  the  words  that  followed  came  hoarse  and  brokenly, 
"My  God  — he's  too  late!" 

Colonel  Carrington  was  right,  for,  as  held  still  and  spell- 
bound they  watched,  the  canoe  leaped  down  the  entrance 
rapid  and  was  lost  in  the  mist  of  the  black  canon.  The 
Colonel  said  nothing  further,  though  he  groaned  aloud,  and 


186       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Lawrence  did  not  care  to  look  at  him;  but  Ormond's  face 
was  ashy  until  a  livid  fury  filled  it  as  he  turned  upon  the 
rancher. 

"  Confusion  to  you!  Why  must  you  stop  me  then?  "  he 
demanded. 

"  You  would  only  have  drowned  yourself  in  the  rapid  and 
done  nobody  any  good,"  Lawrence  said. 

11 1  wish  to  heaven  I  had,"  answered  Ormond,  with  cold 
deliberateness.  "  As  it  is,  you  have  helped  that  man  to  rob 
me  again,  even  at  the  last,  and  I  would  give  all  I  have 
to  change  places  now  with  him." 

Then,  while  Lawrence  wondered  what  he  meant,  though 
when  I  heard  the  story  I  fully  understood,  the  head  of  my 
horse  rose  for  an  instant  out  of  the  tumbling  waters,  sank, 
and  rising,  went  down  again,  while  a  tremor  ran  through 
the  Colonel's  rigid  frame,  and  he  leaned  against  a  hemlock 
with  great  beads  of  sweat  on  his  forehead.  The  poor  beast 
had  doubtless  been  mangled  against  a  boulder,  and  the  sight 
was  horribly  suggestive. 

"  A  very  grim  man,"  said  Lawrence,  when  he  narrated 
what  happened ;  "  but  I  felt  most  cruelly  sorry  for  him. 
Didn't  say  very  much  —  his  sort  never  do;  but  he  was 
in  mortal  anguish,  and  I  knew  how  he  would  miss  the  girl." 

Colonel  Carrington  was,  nevertheless,  the  first  to  master 
his  feelings,  and  his  voice  was  steady  once  more  when  he 
turned  to  Ormond. 

"  Geoffrey,  you  will  go  back  and  send  my  sister  round 
with  the  Indian  by  Tomlinson's  crossing.  Then  you  will 
return  and  overtake  us  in  the  ravine  yonder.  We  are 
going  to  follow  the  crest  of  the  canon  to  —  to  —  see  what  we 
can  find." 

It  was  a  stiff  climb  up  the  ravine,  trying  in  places  to  a 
mountaineer,  but  the  old  man  held  close  behind  his  com- 
panion,   and    Lawrence    wondered    at   him.     He    also    felt 


THE  RETURN  187 

sorry  for  Ormond,  whose  task  it  was  to  overtake  them,  but 
when  at  last  they  hurried  breathless  through  the  pinewoods 
toward  the  edge  of  the  chasm  above  the  fall,  the  latter, 
looking  like  a  ghost,  came  panting  up  with  them.  Then, 
standing  on  the  dizzy  brink,  Colonel  Carrington  gazed  down 
at  the  spout  of  green  water  and  the  whirling  spray,  which 
were  dwarfed  by  the  distance. 

"  That  is  the  greatest  danger,  that  and  the  whirlpool. 
Anything  would  swing  round  in  the  eddy,  would  it  not?" 
he  said.  "  Now,  I  want  only  the  truth  —  you  understand 
these  rivers  —  could  any  white  man  take  a  canoe  down  there 
and  through  the  pool  safely?  "  and  Lawrence,  who  dare  not 
prevaricate  with  that  gaze  upon  him,  answered  reluctantly, 
"  I  do  not  think  so." 

The  Colonel's  thin  face  twitched.  "  I  thank  you.  No 
other  possible  landing  place  or  foothold,  is  there?  And 
it  would  take  a  day  to  go  back  to  Tomlinson's  and  portage 
a  canoe.  Well,  we'll  go  on  to  the  end  in  a  last  hope  that 
they  have  got  through." 

Now  climbing  is  difficult  in  that  region,  because  where 
the  mountain  slopes  do  not  Consist  of  almost  precipitous 
snow-ground  rock,  they  are  clothed  with  forest  and  dense 
undergrowth,  and  it  was  therefore  some  time  before  the 
three  had  traversed  the  league  or  so  that  divided  the  summit 
from  the  outlet  valley.  Neither  when  they  got  there  did 
they  find  the  canoe,  because  when  I  helped  Grace  ashore  I 
did  not  care  where  it  went,  and,  once  on  terra  firma  she 
fainted  suddenly,  and  then  lay  for  a  time  sobbing  on  my 
shoulder  in  a  state  of  nervous  collapse.  As  she  said,  though 
a  brave  one,  she  was  after  all  only  a  woman,  and  what  had 
happened  would  have  tested  the  endurance  of  many  a  man. 
At  last,  however,  I  managed  to  help  her  up  a  ravine  leading 
down  to  the  river,  after  which  she  leaned  heavily  on  my 
arm  as  we  plodded  through  the  forest  until  we  reached  a 


188      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

small  rancher's  shanty,  where,  as  the  owner  was  absent,  I 
took  the  liberty  of  lighting  his  stove  and  preparing  hot  tea. 
Then  I  left  Grace  to  dry  her  garments. 

We  must  have  spent  several  hours  at  the  ranch,  for 
Grace  was  badly  shaken,  and  I  felt  that  rest  was  needful 
for  both  of  us,  while,  when  I  returned  to  the  cabin  after 
drying  myself  in  the  sun,  she  lay  back  in  a  hide-chair 
sleeping  peacefully.  So  while  the  shadows  of  the  firs  length- 
ened across  the  clearing  I  sat  very  still,  until  with  a  light 
touch  I  ventured  to  rouse  her.  She  woke  with  a  gasp  of 
horror,  looked  around  with  frightened  eyes,  then  clung  to 
me,  and  I  knelt  beside  the  chair  with  my  arms  about  her, 
until  at  last  with  a  happy  little  laugh  she  said : 

"  Ralph,  I  have  lost  my  character,  and  you  know  I  am  a 
coward  at  heart;  but,  and  until  to-day  I  should  not  have 
believed  it,  it  is  so  comforting  to  know  I  have  a  —  I  have 
you  to  protect  me."  Then  she  laid  her  hand  on  my  brow, 
adding  gently,  "  Poor  forehead  that  was  wounded  in  my 
service!  But  it  is  getting  late,  Ralph,  and  my  father  will 
be  feverishly  anxious  about  me." 

Grace  was  right  in  this,  because,  long  before  we  borrowed 
the  rancher's  Cayuse  pony  and  set  out  again,  Colonel  Car- 
rington  and  the  others  reached  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
saw  only  a  broad  stretch  of  muddy  current  racing  beneath 
the  rigid  branches  of  the  firs.  Then  after  they  had  searched 
the  few  shingle  bars  —  the  one  we  landed  on  was  by  this 
time  covered  deeply  —  the  old  man  sat  down  on  a  boulder 
apart  from  the  rest,  and  neither  dare  speak  to  him,  though 
Lawrence  heard  him  say  softly  to  himself: 

"  My  daughter  —  my  daughter !  I  would  to  God  I  might 
join  her." 

They  turned  homeward  in  solemn  silence,  though  perhaps 
a  last  spark  of  hope  burned  in  the  Colonel's  breast  that 
by  some  wholly  unexpected  chance  we  had  reached  it  before 


THE  RETURN  18£ 

they  did,  because  Lawrence  said  he  seemed  to  make  a  stern 
effort  to  restrain  himself  when  they  saw  only  Miss  Carring- 
ton  sitting  dejectedly  near  the  window.  Thereupon  Law- 
rence was  glad  to  escape,  and  Ormond,  who  rode  out  to 
gather  the  miners  for  a  systematic  search,  left  them  merci- 
fully alone. 

Afterward  the  old  man  brokenly  narrated  what  had  passed, 
and  then  there  was  a  heavy  silence  in  the  room,  out  of 
which  the  sunlight  slowly  faded,  until,  as  Miss  Carrington 
told  me,  the  ticking  of  a  nickeled  clock  grew  maddening. 
At  last  she  rose  and  flung  the  window  open  wide,  and  the 
sighing  of  the  pines  drifted  in  mournfully  with  a  faint  cool- 
ness that  came  down  from  the  snow.  Meantime,  Colonel 
Carrington  paced  with  a  deadly  regularity  up  and  down, 
neither  speaking  nor  glancing  at  her,  until  he  started  as  a 
faint  beat  of  horse  hoofs  came  out  of  the  shadows. 

"Only  Geoffrey  returning!  "  he  said  bitterly.  "But  I 
have  been  listening,  listening  every  moment  for  the  last 
hour.  It  is  utterly  hopeless,  I  know,  and  we  must  bear  the 
last  black  sorrow  that  has  fallen  upon  us;  but  yet  I  cannot 
quite  believe  her  dead." 

The  tramp  of  hoofs  grew  nearer,  and  the  Colonel  leaned 
out  through  the  open  casement  with  the  hand  that  gripped 
its  ledge  quivering. 

11  That  is  an  Indian  pony,  not  Geoffrey's  horse,  and  a  man 
on  foot  is  leading  it,"  he  said.  "  They  are  coming  this  way; 
I  will  meet  them." 

Miss  Carrington,  however,  laid  a  restraining  grasp  upon 
him,  and  very  slowly  the  clock  ticked  off  the  seconds  until, 
when  two  figures  came  out  through  the  thinning  forest  into 
the  clearing,  the  Colonel's  face  grew  white  as  death.  For  a 
moment  he  choked  for  breath,  and  his  sister  sobbed  aloud 
when  he  recovered  himself,  for  she  too  had  seen. 

"  I  thank  a  merciful  Providence  —  it  is  Grace,"  he  said. 


190       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I  lifted  Grace  from  the  pony's  back,  led  her  toward  the 
house,  and  saw  the  old  man  fold  his  arms  about  her.  Then 
I  heard  her  happy  cry,  and  while  for  a  time  they  forgot  all 
about  me,  I  stood  holding  the  pony's  rein  and  thinking. 
My  first  impulse  was  to  go  forward  and  claim  her  before 
them,  but  that  was  too  much  like  taking  advantage  of  her 
father's  relief.  Also,  I  felt  that  some  things  are  sacred,  and 
the  presence  of  any  stranger  would  be  an  intrusion  then, 
while  it  seemed  hardly  fitting  to  forthwith  demand  such  a 
reward  for  what  any  other  should  doubtless  have  done  gladly. 
So,  trusting  that  Grace  would  understand,  I  turned  away, 
determined  to  call  on  the  Colonel  the  next  morning,  and, 
though  I  am  not  sure  that  the  result  would  otherwise  have 
been  different,  I  afterward  regretted  it.  Now  I  know  that 
any  excess  of  delicacy  or  consideration  for  others  which 
may  cause  unnecessary  sorrow  to  those  nearest  us  is  only 
folly. 

No  one  called  me  back,  or  apparently  noticed  me,  and 
though  with  much  difficulty  I  reached  the  ranch,  and  was 
hospitably  entertained  there,  I  never  closed  my  eyes  all 
night.  I  returned  to  the  Colonel's  dwelling  as  early  as 
possible  the  next  morning,  and  was  at  once  received  by  him. 
The  events  of  the  preceding  day  had  left  their  impression 
even  on  him,  and  for  once  his  eyes  were  kindly,  while  it 
was  with  perceptible  emotion  he  grasped  my  hand. 

"  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  life,  and  you  acted  with  dis- 
cernment as  well  as  gallantry,"  he  said.  "  You  have  an  old 
man's  fervent  thanks,  and  if  he  can  ever  repay  such  a  service 
you  may  rely  on  his  gratitude." 

I  do  not  know  why,  for  they  were  evidently  sincere  enough, 
but  the  wTords  struck  me  unpleasantly.  They  seemed  to 
emphasize  the  difference  between  us,  and  there  was  only 
one  favor  I  would  ever  ask  of  him. 

"  You  can  return  it  now  with  the  greatest  honor  it  is 


THE  RETURN  191 

in  your  power  to  grant  any  living  man,"  I  answered  bluntly. 
"  I  ask  the  promise  of  Miss  Carrington's  hand." 

I  feel  sure  now  that  there  was  pity  in  his  eyes  for  a  mo- 
ment, though  I  scarcely  noticed  it  then,  and  he  answered 
gravely : 

"I  am  sorry.  You  have  asked  the  one  thing  impossible. 
When  Miss  Carrington  marries  it  will  be  in  accordance 
with  my  wishes  and  an  arrangement  made  with  a  dead  kins- 
man long  ago." 

I  think  he  would  have  continued,  but  that  I  broke  in: 
"  But  I  love  her,  and  she  trusts  me.  Ever  since  I  came  to 
this  country  I  have  been  fighting  my  way  upward  with  this 
one  object  in  view.  We  are  both  young,  sir,  and  I  shall 
not  always  be  poor — "  but  here  he  stopped  me  with  a 
gesture,  repeating  dryly,  "  I  am  sorry  for  you." 

He  paced  the  long  room  twice  before  he  again  turned 
toward  me,  saying  with  a  tone  of  authority,  "  Sit  down  there. 
I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  explaining  my  motives,  but  I  will 
make  an  exception  now.  My  daughter  has  been  brought 
up  luxuriously,  as  far  as  circumstances  permitted,  and  in  her 
case  they  permitted  it  in  a  measure  even  on  the  prairie  — 
I  arranged  it  so.  She  has  scarcely  had  a  wish  I  could  not 
gratify,  and  at  Carrington  Manor  her  word  was  law.  I 
need  hardly  say  she  ordered  wisely." 

I  bent  my  head  in  token  of  comprehension  and  agreement 
as  the  speaker  paused,  and  then,  with  a  different  and  incisive 
inflection,  he  continued : 

"  And  what  would  her  life  be  with  you  ?  A  constant 
battle  with  hardship  and  penury  on  a  little  prairie  farm, 
where  with  her  own  hands  she  must  bake  and  wash  and  sew 
for  you,  or,  even  worse,  a  lonely  waiting  in  some  poor  lodging 
while  you  were  away  months  together  railroad  building. 
Is  this  the  lot  you  would  propose  for  her?  Now,  and  there 
is  no  reason  I  should  explain  why,  after  my  death  there  will 


192       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

be  little  left  her  besides  an  expensive  and  occasionally  un- 
profitable farm,  and  so  I  have  had  otherwise  to  provide  for 
her  future!  " 

"  There  are,  however,  two  things  you  take  for  granted, " 
I  interposed  again ;  "  that  I  shall  never  have  much  to  offer 
her  —  and  in  this  I  hope  you  may  be  wrong  —  and  Miss 
Carrington's  acquiescence  in  your  plans." 

The  old  grim  smile  flickered  in  the  Colonel's  eyes  as  he 
answered:  "  Miss  Carrington  will  respect  her  father's  wishes 
—  she  has  never  failed  to  do  so  hitherto  —  and  I  do  not 
know  that  there  is  much  to  be  made  out  of  such  railroad 
contracts  as  your  present  one." 

This  was  certainly  true  enough,  and  I  winced  under  the 
allusion  before  I  made  a  last  appeal. 

"  Then  suppose,  sir,  that  after  all  fortune  favored  me, 
and  there  was  some  reason  why  what  you  look  for  failed  to 
come  about  —  all  human  expectation,  human  life  itself,  is  un- 
certain —  would  you  then  withhold  your  consent?  " 

He  looked  at  me  keenly  a  moment,  saying  nothing,  and  it 
was  always  unpleasant  to  withstand  the  semi-ironical  gaze 
of  Colonel  Carrington,  though  I  had  noticed  a  slight  move- 
ment when  quite  at  random  I  alluded  to  the  uncertainty  of 
life.     Then  he  answered  slowly: 

"  I  think  in  that  case  we  could  discuss  all  this  again, 
though  it  would  be  better  far  for  you  to  consider  my  refusal 
as  definite.  Now  I  have  such  confidence  in  my  daughter's 
obedience  that  on  the  one  condition  that  you  do  not  seek  to 
prejudice  her  against  me  I  do  not  absolutely  forbid  your 
seeing  Miss  Carrington  —  on  occasion  —  but  you  must  write 
no  letters,  and  you  may  take  it  as  a  compliment  that  I  should 
tell  you  I  have  acted  only  as  seemed  best  in  her  interest. 
Neither  should  it  be  needful  to  inform  you  that  she  will 
never   marry   without   my   consent.     And    now,    reiterating 


THE  RETURN  193 

my  thanks,  I  fail  to  see  how  anything  would  be  gained 
by  prolonging  this  interview.,, 

I  knew  from  his  face  that  this  was  so,  and  that  further 
words  might  be  a  fatal  mistake,  and  I  went  out  hurriedly, 
forgetting,  I  am  afraid,  to  return  his  salutation,  though 
when  I  met  his  sister  she  glanced  at  me  with  sympathy  as 
she  pointed  toward  another  door.  When  I  entered  this 
Grace  rose  to  meet  me.  The  time  we  spent  in  the  canon 
had  drawn  us  closer  together  than  many  months  of  com- 
panionship might  have  done,  and  it  was  with  no  affectation 
of  bashful  diffidence  that  she  beckoned  me  to  a  place  beside 
her  on  the  casement  logs,  saying  simply,  "  You  have  bad 
news,  sweetheart.     Tell  me  everything." 

Her  father  had  exacted  no  promise  about  secrecy.  In- 
deed, if  the  arrangement  mentioned  compromised  a  prospec- 
tive husband,  as  I  thought  it  did,  Grace  was  doubtless  fully 
acquainted  with  it;  and  I  told  her  what  had  passed.  Then 
she  drew  herself  away  from  me. 

"  And  is  there  nothing  to  be  added?  Have  you  lost  your 
usual  eloquence?  "  she  said. 

"  Yes,"  I  continued,  "  I  was  coming  to  it.  It  is  this : 
while  I  live  I  will  never  abandon  the  hope  of  winning  you; 
and,  with  such  a  hope,  whatever  difficulty  must  be  grappled 
with  first,  I  know  that  some  day  I  shall  do  it." 

"  And,"  said  Grace,  with  a  heightened  color,  and  her  liquid 
eyes  shining,  "is  there  still  nothing  else?"  And  while  I 
glanced  at  her  in  a  bewildered  fashion  she  continued,  "  Do 
you,  like  my  father,  take  my  consent  for  granted?  Well,  I 
will  give  it  to  you.  Ralph,  while  you  are  living,  and  after, 
if  you  must  go  a  little  before  I  do,  I  will  never  look  with 
favor  upon  any  man.  Meantime,  sweetheart  —  for,  as  he 
said,  I  will  not  resist  my  father's  will,  save  only  in  one  mat- 
ter—  you  must  work  and  I  must  wait,   trusting  in  what 


194      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  future  may  bring.  And  so  —  you  must  leave  me  now; 
and  it  may  be  long  before  I  see  you.  Go,  and  God  bless 
you,  taking  my  promise  with  you." 

She  laid  her  little  hand  in  mine,  and  I  bent  down  until 
the  flushed  face  was  level  with  my  own.  When  I  found 
myself  in  the  open  air  again,  I  strode  through  the  scented 
shadows  triumphantly.  The  Colonel's  opposition  counted 
as  nothing  then.  I  was  sanguine  and  young,  and  I  knew,  be- 
cause she  had  said  it,  that  until  I  had  worsted  fortune  Grace 
Carrington  would  wait  for  me. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE 

TOURING  the  weeks  that  followed  I  saw  neither  Grace 
nor  Colonel  Carrington  —  though  the  latter  fact  did  not 
cause  me  unnecessary  grief,  and  we  heard  much  about  his 
doings.  From  what  the  independent  miners  who  strolled 
into  our  camp  at  intervals  told  us,  the  Day  Spring  shaft 
had  proved  a  costly  venture,  and  had  so  far  failed  to  lay 
bare  any  traces  of  payable  milling  ore.  Still,  the  redout- 
able  Colonel  continued  with  his  usual  tenacity,  and  was  now 
driving  an  adit  into  the  range  side  to  strike  the  quartz  reef 
at  another  level. 

"  There's  a  blamed  sight  more  gold  going  into  them 
diggings  than  they'll  ever  get  out,  and  the  man  who  is  run- 
ning them  will  make  a  big  hole  in  somebody's  bank  account," 
said  one  informant  meditatively.  "  However,  there's  no 
use  wasting  time  trying  to  give  him  advice.  I  strolled  round 
one  morning  promiscuous,  and  sat  down  in  his  office.  '  See 
here,  Colonel,  you're  ploughing  a  bad  patch,'  I  says,  '  and 
having  a  knowledge  of  good  ones  I  might  tell  you  something 
if  I  prowled  through  your  workings.'  " 

"What  did  he  say?"  asked  Harry,  smiling  at  me.  And 
the  narrator  expectorated  disgustedly  as  he  answered : 

"  Just  turned  round  and  stared  —  kind  of  combine  be- 
tween a  ramrod  and  an  icicle.  l  Who  the  perdition  are 
you  ?  '  he  said  —  or  he  looked  it,  anyway.  So,  seeing  him 
above  a  friendly  warning,  I  lit  out,  feeling  sheep-faced ;  and 
I've  bluffed  some  hard  men  in  my  time.     Since  then  I've 

195 


196       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

been  rooting  round,  and  I'm  concluding  there  is  good  ore 
in  that  mountain,  if  he  could  strike  it." 

"  Do  you  know  the  sheep-faced  feeling,  Ralph?"  asked 
Harry  mischievously.  And  probably  my  frown  betrayed 
me,  because  I  knew  it  well,  though  there  was  some  con- 
solation in  the  thought  that  this  reckless  wanderer  of  the 
ranges  knew  it  also. 

In  any  case,  I  had  small  leisure  just  then  to  trouble  about 
the  affairs  of  Colonel  Carrington.  My  duty  to  my  part- 
ners and  the  men  who  worked  for  us  was  sufficiently  oner- 
ous, for  we  had  almost  daily  to  grapple  with  some  fresh  nat- 
ural difficulty.  Twice  a  snow-slide  awakened  majestic 
thunders  among  the  hills  at  night  and  piled  the  wreckage 
of  the  forests  high  upon  the  track.  Massy  boulders  charged 
down  the  slopes  and  smashed  the  half-finished  snow-shed 
framing  into  splinters ;  but,  rod  by  rod,  the  line  stretched  on, 
and  the  surveyor's  good-will  increased  toward  us.  So  the 
short  weeks  passed,  until  at  last  the  metals  led  into  the 
mining  town,  and  its  inhabitants  made  preparations  to  pro- 
vide a  fitting  reception  for  the  first  train,  the  arrival  of  which 
would  mark  a  turning-point  in  the  wooden  city's  history. 
I  can  remember  each  incident  of  that  day  perfectly,  because 
it  also  marked  the  change  from  ebb  to  flood  in  the  tide  of 
our  own  affairs.  We  sat  up  late  the  previous  night  calcu- 
lating the  amount  to  our  debit,  which  proved  sufficiently  dis- 
couraging, and  endeavoring  to  value  on  the  credit  side  work 
we  had  done  in  excess  of  contract ;  but  this,  Harry  said,  was 
reckoning  without  our  host,  as  represented  by  the  surveyor, 
who,  when  we  approached  him  on  the  subject,  displayed  a 
becoming  reticence. 

It  was  a  glorious  afternoon  when  we  stood  waiting  beside 
the  track,  attired  for  once  in  comparatively  decent  garments. 
Harry  and  I  had  spent  several  hours  in  ingenious  repairs, 
one  result  of  which  was  that  certain  seams  would  project 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE  197 

above  the  surface  in  spite  of  our  efforts  to  restrain  them. 
Beneath  us  the  foaming  river  made  wild  music  in  its  hidden 
gorge,  and  the  roar  of  a  fall  drifted  up  with  the  scent  of 
cedars  across  the  climbing  pines,  while  above  the  hill-slopes 
led  the  gaze  upward  into  the  empyrean.  But  there  is  no 
need  for  description;  we  were  in  the  mountains  of  British 
Columbia,  and  it  was  summertime. 

Near  at  hand  many  banners  fluttered  over  the  timber 
city,  and  discordant  strains  announced  the  last  rehearsal  of 
the  miner's  band,  while  a  throng  of  stalwart  men  laughed 
and  jested  as  they  gazed  expectantly  up  the  line.  They 
had  cause  for  satisfaction.  All  had  waited  long  and 
patiently,  paying  treble  value  for  what  they  used  or  ate, 
and  struggling  with  indifferent  implements  to  uncover  the 
secret  treasure  of  the  ranges.  Now  their  enterprise  would 
not  be  handicapped  by  the  lack  of  either  plant  or  capital, 
for  the  promise  given  had  been  redeemed,  and  with  the  ad- 
vent of  the  locomotive  they  looked  for  the  commencement 
of  a  great  prosperity. 

My  face,  however,  was  somber,  for  Harry  made  some 
jesting  comparison  between  it  and  that  of  a  mourner  at  a 
funeral.  We,  too,  had  done  our  share  in  the  building  of 
the  road,  but,  as  far  as  we  could  see,  it  had  signally  failed 
to  bring  us  prosperity. 

"  You  can  console  yourself  with  the  feeling  that  it's  good 
to  be  a  public  benefactor,  even  if  you  don't  get  any  money," 
said  Harry  cheerfully.  "  Did  it  ever  strike  you,  Ralph, 
that  the  people  who  subscribe  for  statues  make  a  bad  choice 
of  their  models?  Instead  of  the  frock-coated  director  they 
should  set  up  the  man  with  the  shovel  —  Ralph  Lorimer, 
rampant,  clad  in  flour  bags,  and  heaving  aloft  the  big  axe, 
for  instance,  with  the  appropriate  motto  round  the  pedestal 
under  him,  '  Virtue  is  its  own  reward.'  No,  I'm  in  charge 
of  the  pulpit  this  afternoon,  Lee." 


198       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

What  the  shoemaker  intended  to  say  did  not  appear,  for 
he  smilingly  abandoned  the  opportunity  for  improving  the 
occasion.  He  had  put  on  flesh  and  vigor,  and  now,  instead 
of  regarding  him  as  a  flippant  worldling,  which  was  formerly 
his  plainly  expressed  opinion,  he  even  looked  up  in  a  curious 
way  toward  my  partner,  and  once  informed  me  that  there 
was  a  gradely  true  soul  in  him  under  his  nonsense.  The 
spell  of  the  mountains  and  the  company  of  broad-minded 
cheerful  toilers  had  between  them  done  a  good  deal  for  Lee. 
Then  up  on  the  hillside  a  strip  of  bunting  fluttered  from 
the  summit  of  a  blighted  pine,  the  cry  "  She's  coming!  " 
rolled  from  man  to  man,  and  there  was  a  thunderous  crash 
as  some  one  fired  a  heavy  blasting  charge.  A  plume  of 
white  vapor  rose  at  the  end  of  the  valley,  and  twinkling 
metal  flashed  athwart  the  pines,  while  a  roar  of  voices  broke 
out  and  my  own  heart  beast  faster  in  the  succeeding  stillness. 
Enthusiasm  is  contagious,  and  a  feeling  of  elation  grew 
upon  me.  Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  cars,  and  when  they 
lurched  clattering  up  the  last  grade  the  snorting  of  the 
huge  locomotive  and  the  whir  of  flying  wheels  made  very 
sweet  music  to  those  who  heard  them. 

Then  as,  with  the  red,  quartered  ensign  fluttering  above 
the  head-lamp  and  each  end  platform  crowded,  the  train 
passed  the  last  construction  camp,  a  swarm  of  blue-shirted 
toilers  cast  their  hats  into  the  air,  and  the  scream  of  the 
brakes  was  drowned  in  a  mighty  cheer,  while  I  found  myself 
cheering  vehemently  among  the  rest.  The  blasts  ceased  at 
the  funnel,  and  as  the  slackening  couplings  clashed  while 
the  cars  rolled  slowTly  through  the  eddying  dust  I  started  in 
amaze,  for  there  were  two  faces  at  the  unglazed  windows  of 
the  decorated  observation  car  which  I  knew  well,  but  had 
never  expected  to  see  there.  Martin  Lorimer  waved  his 
hand  toward  me  as  the  train  stopped,  my  cousin  Alice  stood 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE  199 

beside  him  smiling  a  greeting,  and  with  shame  I  remembered 
how  long  it  was  since  I  had  sent  news  to  her. 

"Have  you  seen  a  ghost?"  asked  Harry.  "You  are  a 
regular  Don  Juan.  Who  is  that  dainty  damsel  you  are 
honoring  with  such  marked  attention,  to  the  neglect  of  your 
lawful  business.  Don't  you  see  the  surveyor  is  beckoning 
your 

This  was  true,  for,  standing  among  a  group  of  elderly 
men  who  I  supposed  were  railway  magnates  or  guests  of  im- 
portance, the  surveyor,  to  my  astonishment,  called  me  by 
name. 

"  I  have  been  looking  for  you  all  along  the  track,"  he  said. 
"  Must  present  you  to  these  gentlemen.  We  have  been  dis- 
cussing your  work." 

Several  of  the  party  shook  hands  with  me  frankly,  while 
the  names  the  surveyor  mentioned  were  already  well-known 
in  Winnepeg  and  Montreal,  and  have  since  become  famous 
throughout  the  Dominion.  One  with  gray  hair  and  an 
indefinable  stamp  of  authority  touched  my  shoulder  with  a 
friendly  gesture.  "  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Mr. 
Lorimer  before,"  he  said.  "  We  have  some  business  to- 
gether, and  expect  you  to  join  us  in  the  opening  ceremony. 
Meantime,  you  will  excuse  me  —  Jardine,  I'm  thankful  it  is 
your  turn.     There  is  evidently  a  deputation  coming." 

Preceded  by  tossing  banners,  and  a  band  which  made  up 
in  vigor  what  it  lacked  in  harmony,  a  procession  approached 
the  train,  and  its  leader  commenced  reading  something 
awkwardly  from  a  written  paper  in  time  to  an  undercurrent 
of  semi-ironical  encouragement.  I  saw  some  of  the  visitors' 
eyes  twinkle  at  his  sentiments,  but  for  the  most  part  they 
listened  with  becoming  gravity;  and  when  a  man  with  gold 
eyeglasses  had  suitably  replied,  there  was  a  wild  scuffle  for 
«ven  a  foothold  on  the  train.     One  musician  smote  another, 


200      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

who  strove  to  oust  him  from  a  platform,  with  his  cornet, 
which  promptly  doubled  in;  the  big  drum  rolled  down  a 
declivity  with  its  owner  hurling  back  wild  language  in 
frantic  chase  of  it;  then  the  locomotive  snorted,  and,*  with 
the  bell  clanging,  it  hauled  the  first  train  into  the  wooden 
town  amid  the  acclamations  of  the  populace.  After  this  I 
had  an  opportunity  for  greeting  my  uncle,  and  we  looked  at 
each  other  with  mutual  curiosity.  Martin  Lorimer  seemed 
thinner  and  older.  His  hair  was  freely  sprinkled  with  white 
now,  but  his  eyes  were  as  keen  as  ever,  and  I  could  read  ap- 
proval in  them.  Then  as  Alice  came  toward  us  from  an 
adjoining  car  he  laughed  boisterously. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  your  cousin,  lass?  "  he  said.  "  He 
left  us  an  obstinate  stripling,  and  this  country  has  hammered 
him  into  a  man.  Thou  art  a  credit  to  the  land  that  bred 
thee,  lad.  Ralph,  I  wronged  thee  sorely,  like  the  blundering 
fool  I  am,  and  first  of  all  I  ask  thy  forgiveness." 

Martin  Lorimer  could  speak  excellent  modern  English 
when  he  liked,  and  usually  did  so,  but,  and  in  this  he  re- 
sembled others  of  his  kind,  in  times  of  excitement  he  used 
the  older  form  which  is  still  the  tongue  of  Lancashire.  I 
made  some  haphazard  answer,  but  it  seemed  appropriate,  for 
Alice  smiled  upon  us  as  we  shook  hands  heartily.  When  I 
turned  toward  her  a  feeling  of  pity  came  upon  me  —  she 
looked  so  wan  and  frail.  Still  her  eyes  were  bright  with 
good-will,  and  her  voice  seemed  to  tremble  a  little  as  she 
said,  "  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you  and  your  uncle  good  friends 
again.     He  was  very  stupid,  and  I  told  him  so." 

"  You  did,  lass,"  said  Martin  Lorimer,  "  many  a  time,  and 
we  had  words  upon  it.  We're  a  thick-headed  people,  Ralph, 
except  for  our  womenkind,  and  if  we're  slow  to  think  evil 
we're  slow  to  change.  The  Lord  forgive  me  for  pig-headed 
folly." 

"  May  I  show  you  this  wonderful  township?  "  interrupted 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE  201 

one  of  the  railroad  magnates  approaching  with  a  bow. 
"  Mr.  Ralph  Lorimer,  I  am  desired  to  invite  you  to  the  cele- 
bration dinner.  It's  the  chief's  especial  wish  that  you  should 
be  present,"  and  he  drew  Alice  away,  leaving  my  uncle  and 
myself  alone. 

"  We'll  go  and  see  the  city,  too,"  said  the  former.  "  Al- 
ready the  air  of  your  mountains  makes  me  young  again. 
Never  heard  how  I  cheated  the  doctors,  eh  ?  —  they  badly 
wanted  to  bury  me,  but  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  another 
time.     Now  I  feel  like  a  school  lad  out  for  a  holiday." 

He  seemed  in  excellent  spirits,  and  with  me  the  bright 
sunshine,  the  uproarious  rejoicings  of  the  crowd,  and  the 
events  of  the  past  half-hour  combined  to  banish  all  depres- 
sion, while  many  an  acquaintance  smiled  as  he  glanced  at  the 
grizzled  man  in  tourist  tweeds  who  chatted  gaily  and  gazed 
about  him  with  wondering  eyes. 

"  You  breed  fine  men  over  here,"  he  said,  "  Never  saw  a 
finer  set  anywhere.  Bless  me!  look  at  that  one  striding 
toward  us  with  the  air  of  a  general;  stamp  of  blood  about 
him ;  where  did  he  get  it  ?  And  yet  by  the  look  of  him  that 
fellow  could  do  a  hard  day's  work  with  any  British  navvy." 

"  He  can,"  I  answered  smiling,  "  and  he  was  taught  at  a 
British  university.  Now  he  hews  logs  for  a  living,  and 
sometimes  works  for  me.  Let  me  introduce  you  to  my  uncle 
from  Lancashire,  Martin  Lorimer  —  Lance  Chisholm." 

"  Very  glad  to  meet  you,  sir,"  said  the  latter.  "  I 
promised  to  look  in  on  Morgan  in  the  saloon;  will  you  join 
us?" 

When  we  elbowed  our  way  through  the  noisy  room  toward 
the  bar  Chisholm  proffered  the  usual  refreshment,  and  with 
a  comprehensive  wave  ,of  his  hand  bade  the  tender,  "  Set 
them  up !  " 

Martin  Lorimer  stared  bewilderedly  at  the  row  of  glasses 
deftly  flung  in  front  of  him,  and  there  was  a  roar  of  laughter 


202       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

when,  glancing  at  me  appealingly,  he  said,  "  It's  a  hospitable 
country;  but,  bless  us,  Ralph!  are  we  expected  to  drink  all 
of  this?     And  I'm  a  churchwarden!  " 

A  bearded  giant  in  blue  jean  smote  him  on  the  shoulder. 
"  You've  got  the  right  grit  in  you,  stranger,"  he  said.  "  Start 
right  in,  and  do  the  best  you  can,"  while  the  old  man  joined 
in  the  merriment  when  I  explained  that  the  invitation  in- 
cluded all  in  the  vicinity  who  cared  to  accept  it.  I  left  him 
with  Harry  and  Johnston  presently  because  one  of  the  guests 
brought  word  that  Alice  desired  to  see  me,  and  I  found  her 
on  the  veranda  of  the  best  house  the  citizens  could  place  at 
the  strangers'  disposal.  There  were  ladies  among  them.  I 
drew  two  chairs  into  a  corner  where  a  flowering  creeper 
screened  half  the  trellis,  and  from  where  we  sat  a  wonderful 
vista  rolled  away  before  us.  Alice  had  changed  but  little, 
save  that  she  seemed  even  more  delicate.  I  had  changed 
much,  and  now  as  we  chatted  with  a  resumption  of  ancient 
friendliness  I  wondered  how  it  was  that  her  innate  goodness 
and  wisdom  had  never  impressed  me  more  in  the  old  days. 
Few  would  have  called  her  handsome  at  first  sight,  but  she 
was  dowered  with  qualities  that  were  greater  than  beauty. 

"  You  will  wonder  what  brought  us  here,"  she  said  at 
length,  "  and  your  uncle  forgot  to  tell  you.  Ever  after 
that  —  unfortunate  mistake  —  he  talked  constantly  about 
our  headstrong  lad,  but  when  he  lay  dangerously  ill  for  weeks 
together  I  was  unable  to  write  you.  The  doctors  had  little 
hope  most  of  the  time,  and  one  said  he  recovered  chiefly  be- 
cause he  had  made  his  mind  up  he  would  not  die,  and  when 
they  forbade  all  thought  of  business  and  recommended  travel 
he  made  me  buy  the  latest  map  of  Canada,  and  we  are  now 
staying  at  the  new  mountain  chalet.  My  own  health  has 
not  improved  latterly,  and  that  helped  to  decide  him.  We 
left  the  main  line  on  the  prairie  and  went  south  in  search  of 
you,  and  when  we  could  only  discover  that  you  had  gone  to 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE  203 

British  Columbia  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  my  father  expressed 
his  disappointment  very  forcibly  —  but  you  know  his  way. 
Then  while  we  stayed  at  the  chalet  we  read  about  the  open- 
ing of  the  new  line,  and  he  grew  excited  at  a  mention  of 
your  name.  *  We'll  go  right  down  and  see  that  opening, 
lass/  he  said.  *  IVe  a  letter  to  one  of  the  railroad  leaders, 
and  I'll  make  him  invite  us;'  and  so  we  came.  When  my 
father  sets  his  heart  on  anything  he  generally  obtains  it. 
Now  we  will  talk  about  Canada." 

The  flowering  creeper  partly  hid  us,  but  it  left  openings 
between,  framing  the  prospect  of  glittering  peak  and  forest- 
filled  valley  with  green  tracery,  while  warm  sunlight  beat 
through.  So,  in  contrast  to  the  past,  I  found  it  comforting 
to  lounge  away  the  time  there  with  a  fair  companion,  while 
glancing  down  the  glistening  metals  I  told  how  we  had 
built  the  line.  Alice  was  a  good  listener,  and  the  tale  may 
have  had  its  interest,  while  —  and  this  is  not  wholly  due  to 
vanity  —  no  man  talks  better  than  when  he  speaks  to  a 
sympathizing  woman  of  the  work  that  he  is  proud  of.  It 
was  no  disloyalty  to  Grace,  but  when  once  or  twice  she  laid 
her  thin  hand  on  my  arm  I  liked  to  have  it  there,  and  see 
the  smile  creep  into  her  eyes  when  I  told  of  Lee's  doings. 
So  the  minutes  fled,. until  at  last  a  shadow  fell  upon  us,  and 
I  saw  Grace  pass  close  by  with  her  father.  For  an  instant 
her  eyes  met  mine,  then  I  felt  that  they  rested  on  my  com- 
panion, whose  head  w^as  turned  toward  me  confidentially  and 
away  from  Grace,  and  I  fumed  inwardly,  for  she  spoke  to 
the  Colonel  and  passed  on  without  a  greeting. 

"  That  is  surely  Miss  Carrington,"  said  Alice  looking 
up  later  with  a  faintly  perceptible  trace  of  resentment. 
"  Why  did  she  not  speak  to  either  of  us?  M 

It  was  a  troublesome  question,  because  I  could  not  well 
explain  what  my  exact  relations  were  with  Grace,  nor  how 
her  father's  presence  might  perhaps  restrain  her,  so  that  I 


204      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

was  glad  when  Martin  Lorimer  suddenly  joined  us.  It 
seemed  fated  that  circumstances  should  array  themselves 
against  me.  The  rest  of  the  afternoon  was  spent  in  hilarious 
merriment,  and,  though  as  a  rule  the  inhabitants  of  that 
region  are  a  peaceful  folk,  a  few  among  them  celebrated 
the  occasion  by  breaking  windows  with  pistol  shots  and 
similar  vagaries.  Still,  even  those  who  owned  the  glass 
took  it  in  good  part;  and,  as  darkness  fell,  considerably  more 
of  the  populace  than  it  was  ever  intended  to  hold  squeezed 
themselves  into  the  wooden  building  which  served  as  city 
hall,  while  the  rest  sat  in  the  dust  outside  it,  and  cheered  for 
no  particular  reason  at  regular  intervals. 

The  best  banquet  the  district  could  furnish  was  served 
in  the  hall,  and  I  sat  opposite  the  surveyor  near  the  head 
of  one  table,  with  my  uncle  and  Alice  close  by,  and  Grace 
and  Colonel  Carrington  not  far  away.  Cedar  sprays  and 
branches  of  balsam  draped  the  pillars,  the  red  folds  of  the 
beaver  ensign  hung  above  our  heads,  aoid  as  usual  the  as- 
sembly was  democratic  in  character.  Men  in  broadcloth  and 
in  blue  jean  sat  side  by  side  —  rail-layer,  speculator,  and 
politician  crowded  on  one  another,  with  stalwart  axe-men, 
some  of  whom  were  better  taught  than  either,  and  perhaps  a 
few  city  absconders,  to  keep  them  company;  but  there  was 
only  good-fellowship  between  them.  The  enthusiasm  in- 
creased with  each  orator's  efforts,  until  the  surveyor  made 
in  his  own  brusque  fashion,  which  was  marked  by  true 
Western  absence  of  bashfulness,  the  speech  of  the  evening. 
Some  one  who  had  once  served  the  English  press  sent  a 
report  to  a  Victoria  journal,  of  which  I  have  a  copy,  but  no 
print  could  reproduce  the  essence  of  the  man's  vigorous  per- 
sonality which  vibrated  through  it. 

"  What  built  up  the  Western  Dominion,  called  leagues 
of  wheat  from  the  prairie,  and  opened  the  gate  of  the  moun- 
tains—  opened  it  wide  to  all,  with  a  welcome  to  the  Pacific 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE  205 

Slope  paradise?"  he  said.  "  The  conundrum's  easy  —  just 
the  railroad.  Good  markets  and  mills,  say  the  city  men, 
but  where  do  the  markets  come  in  if  you  can't  get  at  them  ? 
What  is  it  that's  binding  London  over  the  breadth  of  Can- 
ada with  China  and  Japan  —  only  the  level  steel  road. 
You  said,  *  We've  gold  and  silver  and  timber,  but  we're 
wanting  bread,  machines,  and  men/  We  said,  l  We'll  send 
the  locomotives ;  it  will  bring  you  them ; '  and  this  railroad 
keeps  its  promise  —  keeps  it  every  time.  So  we  cut  down 
the  forest,  and  we  blew  up  the  mighty  rocks,  we  drove  a 
smooth  pathway  through  the  heart  of  the  ranges  —  and 
now  its  your  part  to  fill  the  freight  cars  to  the  bursting. 

"  We'll  bring  you  good  men  in  legions ;  we'll  take  out 
your  high-grade  ore,  but  you'll  remember  that  the  building 
of  this  railroad  wasn't  all  luxury.  Some  of  those  who  laid 
the  ties  sleep  soundly  beside  them,  some  lost  their  money, 
and  now  when  you  have  thanked  the  leaders  in  Ottawa, 
Montreal,  and  Victoria,  there  are  others  to  whom  your 
thanks  are  due  —  the  men  who  stayed  right  there  with  their 
contracts  in  spite  of  fire  and  snow,  staking  dollar  after  dollar 
on  a  terribly  risky  game.  There  were  considerable  of  them, 
but  most  of  you  know  this  one  —  I'm  sharing  my  laurels 
with  him — "  and  as  a  thunder  of  applause  which  followed 
the  halt  he  made  died  away  he  turned  toward  me.  "  Stand 
right  up,  Contractor  Lorimer  —  they're  shouting  for  you." 

There  was  further  clamor,  but  I  scarcely  heard  it,  and 
I  longed  that  the  floor  of  the  hall  might  open  beneath  me. 
Still,  there  was  clearly  no  escape,  and  I  stood  up  under  the 
lamp-light,  noticing,  as  one  often  notices  trifles  at  such  times, 
how  like  a  navvy's  my  right  hand  was  as  it  trembled  a  little 
on  the  white  table-cloth.  A  sea  of  faces  were  turned  to- 
ward me  expectantly,  and  I  pitied  their  owners'  disappoint- 
ment, but  I  saw  only  four  persons  plainly  —  my  uncle,  and 
Alice,  who  flashed  an  encouraging  glance  at  me,   Colonel 


206       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Carrington  looking  up  with  a  semi-ironical  smile,  and  Grace. 
I  could  not  tell  what  her  expression  meant. 

I  should  sooner  have  faced  a  forest  fire  than  that  assembly, 
but  at  least  my  remarks  were  brief,  and  I  felt  on  firmer 
ground  when  memories  of  the  rock-barred  track  and  the 
lonely  camps  rose  up  before  me,  and  there  was  a  shout  at 
the  lame  conclusion,  "  We  gave  our  bond  and  we  tried  to 
keep  it,  as  the  rest  did  too.  We  were  poor  men,  all  of  us, 
and  we  are  poor  men  still ;  but  every  one  owes  something  to 
the  land  that  gives  him  bread.  So  we  tried  to  pay  back  a 
little,  and  perhaps  we  failed;  but  at  least  the  road  is  made, 
and  we  look  forward  hoping  that  a  full  tide  of  prosperity 
will  flow  into  this  country  along  the  rails  we  laid." 

The  applause  swelled  and  deepened  when  Harry  Lor- 
raine stood  up,  silver-tongued,  graceful,  smiling,  and  called 
forth  roars  of  laughter  by  his  happy  wit;  and  when  he  had 
finished  Martin  Lorimer,  who  was  red  in  the  face,  stretched 
his  arm  across  the  table  toward  me,  and  held  up  a  goblet, 
saying:  "For  the  honor  of  the  old  country!  Well  done, 
both  of  you !  " 

"  The  fun  is  nearly  over.  We  can  talk  business,"  said 
the  gray-haired  man  from  Winnipeg,  on  my  right  side.  "  I 
may  say  that  we  are  satisfied  with  the  way  you  have  served 
us,  and,  though  a  bargain  is  a  bargain,  we  don't  wish  to 
take  an  unfair  advantage  of  any  one;  so  the  surveyor  will 
meet  you  over  the  extras.  He  is  waiting  with  the  schedule, 
and  by  his  advice  we're  open  to  let  you  this  contract  for 
hewn  lumber  supplies.  Here's  a  rough  memo;  the  quantity 
is  large,  and  that  is  our  idea  of  a  reasonable  figure." 

I  glanced  at  the  paper  with  open  pleasure,  but  the  other 
checked  me  as  I  began  to  speak. 

"  Glad  you  will  take  it !  It's  a  commercial  transaction, 
and  not  a  matter  of  thanks,"  he  said.  "  Settle  details  with 
the  surveyor." 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  LINE  207 

I  spent  some  time  with  the  latter,  who  smiled  dryly  as 
he  said,  "Not  quite  cleaned  out  yet?  Well,  it's  seldom 
wise  to  be  too  previous,  and  you  can't  well  come  to  grief 
over  the  new  deal.  Wanted  again,  confound  them!  Sail 
in  and  prosper,  Lorimer." 

He  left  a  payment  order  which  somewhat  surprised  me, 
and  when  I  stood  under  the  stars  wondering  whether  all 
that  had  happened  was  not  too  good  to  be  true,  Harry  came 
up  in  search  of  me.  I  grabbed  him  by  the  shoulder  and  shook 
the  paper  before  him. 

"  Our  friend  has  acted  more  than  fairly,"  I  said.  "  We 
can  pay  off  all  debts,  and  I  have  just  concluded  a  big  new, 
profitable  deal !  " 

"That  will  keep,"  said  Harry,  laughing;  "another  mat- 
ter won't.  They're  going  to  haul  out  the  visitors'  picnic 
straight  away,  and  they  show  good  judgment.  A  sleeper 
on  the  main  line  will  form  a  much  more  peaceful  resting- 
place  than  this  elated  hamlet  to-night.  Your  uncle  wants 
to  see  you,  and  Miss  Carrington  is  waiting  beside  the  cars." 

I  found  Alice  and  Martin  Lorimer  beside  the  track,  the 
latter  fuming  impatiently,  while  the  locomotive  bell  sum- 
moned the  passengers;  and  as  I  joined  them  Grace  walked 
into  the  group  before  she  recognized  us.  Alice  was  the 
first  to  speak,  and  I  saw  the  two  faces  plainly  under  the 
lighted  car  windows,  as  she  said : 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  you  again,  Miss  Carrington,  and  am 
sorry  I  missed  you  this  afternoon.  I  was  too  busy  giving  my 
cousin  good  advice  —  it's  a  privilege  I  have  enjoyed  from 
childhood  —  to  recognize  you  at  first." 

Grace's  expression  changed,  and  I  thanked  Alice  in  my 
heart  for  what  I  believe  few  women  would  have  done. 
Then  there  was  a  shriek  of  the  whistle,  and  a  bustle  about 
the  train;  and  as  Grace  moved  toward  the  car  she  said 
softly  in  passing: 


208      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  It  was  a  fitting  consummation.  Better  times  are  coming, 
Ralph,  and  I  am  proud  of  you." 

"  Am  I  never  to  speak  to  thee,  lad  ? "  said  Martin. 
"  There's  nothing  would  please  me  better  than  to  wait  and 
see  the  fun  out;  but  Alice,  she  won't  hear  of  it.  Come 
to  see  us,  and  stay  a  month  if  you  can.  Anyway,  come  to- 
morrow or  the  day  after.  I  have  lots  to  tell  thee.  Oh, 
hang  them!  they're  starting.  Alice,  wouldn't  that  lady  take 
charge  of  thee  while  I  stay  back  ?  " 

"  Get  into  the  car,  father,"  said  the  girl,  with  a  laugh. 
"  You  mustn't  forget  you're  the  people's  warden.  Good- 
bye, Ralph,  until  we  see  you  at  the  chalet." 

"  All  aboard !  "  called  a  loud  voice ;  the  couplings  tight- 
ened ;  and  I  waved  my  hat  as,  followed  by  a  last  cheer,  the 
train  rolled  away. 

"  Is  it  true  that  all  has  been  settled  satisfactorily?  "  asked 
Harry,  presently,  and  when  I  answered,  he  added :  "  Then 
we're  going  back  to  finish  the  evening.  Johnston's  to  honor 
the  company  with  stump  speeches  and  all  kinds  of  banjo  ec- 
centricities. You  are  getting  too  sober  and  serious,  Ralph; 
come  along." 

I  refused  laughingly,  and  spent  at  least  an  hour  walking 
up  and  down  through  the  cool  dimness  that  hung  over  the 
track  to  dissipate  the  excitement  of  a  day  of  varied  emotions. 
Then  I  went  back  to  our  shanty  and  slept  soundly,  until 
about  daybreak  I  was  partly  wakened  by  the  feasters  re- 
turning with  discordant  songs,  though  I  promptly  went  to 
sleep  again.  I  never  heard  exactly  what  happened  in  the 
wooden  town  that  night,  but  there  was  wreckage  in  its 
streets  the  next  morning,  and  when  I  opened  my  eyes  the 
first  thing  I  saw  was  our  partner  Johnston  slumbering  peace- 
fully with  his  head  among  the  fragments  of  his  shattered 
banjo. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

A  GENEROUS  OFFER 

FT  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  when  Harry 
and  I  sat  figuring  in  our  shanty,  while  Johnston  lay  on 
a  heap  of  cedar  twigs  sucking  at  his  pipe  and  encouraging  us 
languidly. 

11  I  never  could  stand  figures,  and  that's  perhaps  why  I'm 
poor,"  he  said.  "  Go  on,  you  are  doing  famously,  and, 
though  Ralph  can't  add  up  correctly  to  save  his  life,  I'll 
take  your  word  for  it." 

He  formed  a  characteristic  picture  of  the  free  lance  as  he 
lay  there,  bronzed  and  blonde-bearded,  with  his  massy  limbs 
disposed  in  an  attitude  of  easy  grace,  awaiting  the  result  with 
a  careless  unconcern  until  Harry  flung  a  long  boot  at  him  as 
a  signal  for  silence. 

"  As  the  surveyor  told  you,  Ralph,  we  can't  well  lose 
money  on  this  last  venture,  even  if  we  wanted  to,"  said 
Harry  at  length.  "  You'll  observe  I'm  almost  getting  su- 
perstitious. Now,  on  cashing  the  order,  we  can  repay  your 
loan,  keeping  back  sufficient  to  meet  emergencies,  while  with 
the  rest  one  of  us  could  return  to  Fairmead  and  plough  every 
available  acre  for  next  spring's  sowing.  Many  things  sug- 
gest that  you  are  the  one  to  go.  Johnston  and  I  with  the 
others  could  get  the  timber  out  during  the  winter  —  we  have 
worked  in  the  snow  before  —  and  I  would  join  you  in  the 
spring.  That,  however,  again  raises  a  point  that  must  be 
settled  once  for  all.  Are  we  to  hold  on  to  our  first  am- 
bition, or  turn  contractors?  " 

209 


210       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Again  there  was  a  silence  through  which  the  roar  of  the 
river  reached  us  brokenly,  and  for  some  minutes  I  breathed 
the  smell  of  hot  dust  and  resinous  twigs  that  entered  the 
open  doorway. 

"  I  hold  on  to  the  first,"  I  said  finally. 

"  And  I  stand  by  you,"  answered  Harry. 

Simultaneously  we  glanced  at  Johnston,  who  looked  up 
with  the  same  gay  indifference  he  had  manifested  when  we 
floundered  half-fed,  knee-deep  in  slush  of  snow.  "  I'll  save 
you  unpleasant  explanations,"  he  said.  "  I'm  a  stormy  petrel, 
and  the  monotonous  life  of  a  farmer  would  pall  on  me,  so 
I'll  see  you  through  the  railroad  contract,  and  then  —  well, 
I'll  thank  you  for  a  space  of  pleasant  comradeship,  and  go 
on  my  way  again.  The  mountain  province  is  sufficiently 
godd  for  me,  and  some  day  I'll  find  either  a  gold  mine  in 
it,  or,  more  likely,  a  grave.  If  not,  you  can  count  on  a  visit 
whenever  I  am  hard  up  and  hungry." 

The  words  were  typical  of  the  man,  though  their  under- 
current of  melancholy  troubled  me;  but,  for  we  knew  he 
spoke  the  truth  in  regard  to  the  farming,  the  matter  was 
settled  so.  I  should  much  have  preferred  that  Harry  re- 
turn to  Fairmead,  but  it  was  clear  that  the  task  most  suited 
me.  Perhaps  Johnston  guessed  my  reluctance,  for  he  said 
playfully:  "Is  not  banishment  worse  than  snow  slides  or 
the  high  peak's  frost,  and  what  are  all  the  flowers  of  the 
prairie  to  the  blood-red  rose  of  the  valley  that  was  grafted 
from  Lancastrian  stock?  " 

Thereupon  Harry  deftly  dropped  an  almost-empty  flour 
bag  on  his  head,  and  the  consultation  broke  up  amid  a  cloud 
of  white  dust. 

"  This,"  remarked  Johnston,  "  is  the  beginning  of  riches. 
Two  days  ago,  he  would  have  carefully  swept  up  the  frag- 
ments to  make  flapjacks." 

Thus  it  came  about  that  the  next  morning  I  boarded  the 


A  GENEROUS  OFFER  211 

main  line  express,  and  traveled  first-class  with  a  special 
pass,  while  as  luck  would  have  it  the  conductor,  who  evinced 
an  unusual  civility  when  he  glanced  at  the  autograph  thereon, 
was  the  same  man  I  had  worsted  the  memorable  night  when 
I  arrived  a  penniless  stranger  on  the  prairie.  "  If  you  want 
anything  in  these  cars,  just  let  me  know,"  he  said. 

"  I  will,"  I  answered,  thrusting  back  the  wide-brimmed 
hat  as  I  looked  at  him.  "  The  last  time  we  traveled  to- 
gether you  were  not  so  accommodating.  We  had  a  little 
dispute  at  Elktrail  one  night  in  the  snow." 

"  General  Jackson !  "  exclaimed  the  conductor.  "  But  you 
didn't  travel  with  that  name  on  your  ticket  then.  Say,  it 
was  all  a  mistake  and  in  the  way  of  business.  You  won't 
bear  malice  ?  " 

He  vanished  without  awaiting  an  answer,  and  I  leaned 
back  on  the  cushions  chuckling  softly,  after  which,  fishing 
out  my  pipe,  I  sank  into  a  soothing  reverie.  There  was  no 
doubt  that  this  kind  of  traveling  had  its  advantages,  and  it 
appeared  equally  certain  that  I  had  earned  a  few  days'  lux- 
urious holiday,  while,  as  the  blue  wreaths  curled  up,  the 
towering  pines  outside  the  windows  changed  into  the  gaunt 
chimneys  of  smoky  Lancashire.  Then  they  dwindled  to 
wind-dwarfed  birches,  and  I  was  lashing  the  frantic  broncos 
as  they  raced  the  hail  for  the  shelter  of  a  bluff,  until  once 
more  it  seemed  to  be  autumn  and  a  breadth  of  yellow  wheat 
stood  high  above  the  prairie,  while  the  rhythmic  beat  of 
wheels  changed  to  the  rattle  of  the  elevators  lifting  in  the 
golden  grain.  Here,  however,  roused  by  a  scream  of  the 
whistle  as  the  long  train  swept  by  a  little  station,  I  found 
that  the  pipe  lay  among  feathery  ashes  on  my  knee,  and  an 
hour  had  passed,  while  I  knew  that  under  the  touch  of  sleep 
my  thoughts  had  turned  mechanically  into  the  old  channel. 

It  was  toward  noon  when  I  left  the  cars  at  a  station 
looking   down   upon   a  broad   reach   of   sunlit   river  which 


212      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

wound  past  maples,  willows,  and  a  few  clearings  through  a 
deep  valley.  Martin  Lorimer  and  Alice  met  me  on  the 
platform,  and  his  greeting  was  hearty. 

"  We  have  watched  every  train  since  we  last  saw  you,'' 
he  said.  "  Alice,  though  she  won't  own  it,  has  been  anxious, 
too.  Never  spent  such  an  interesting  time  as  I  did  up 
yonder,  and  we're  going  to  make  it  pleasant  for  you  here. 
Of  course,  you'll  stay  with  us  a  week  or  two?  " 

The  old  man's  face  fell  as  I  answered  that  time  was  press- 
ing, and  I  must  return  the  following  day,  while  for  some 
reason  Alice  turned  her  face  aside,  but  she  laughed  pleasantly. 

"  Your  uncle  has  been  talking  of  nothing  else  the  last  two 
days,"  she  said.  "  I  am  glad  I  did  not  leave  him  with  those 
wild  men  in  the  rejoicing  city.  Some  of  them,  however, 
seemed  very  nice.  Meanwhile,  I  think  lunch  is  waiting  for 
us." 

We  reached  the  pretty  chalet  hotel,  which  was  hardly 
completed  then,  though  it  is  a  famous  resort  now,  and  it 
was  a  new  experience,  after  faring  hardly  on  doughy  flap- 
jacks and  reistit  pork  of  our  own  cooking,  to  sit  at  a  well- 
ordered  table  covered  with  spotless  linen.  Still  better  did  it 
seem  to  see  Alice  smiling  upon  me  across  the  flowers  in  the 
glasses  and  sparkling  silver,  and  Martin  Lorimer's  cheery 
face  as,  while  he  pressed  the  good  things  upon  me,  we 
chatted  of  old  times  and  England.  It  is  only  through  ad- 
versity and  hardship  that  one  learns  to  appreciate  fully  such 
an  interlude. 

My  uncle  had,  however,  not  yet  recovered  his  strength, 
and  when  later  his  eyes  grew  heavy  Alice  whispered  that 
he  usually  slept  in  the  heat  of  the  afternoon,  and  I  was  glad 
to  follow  her  into  a  garden  newly  hewn  out  of  the  forest. 
We  sat  there  in  scented  shadow  under  the  branches  of  giant 
redwoods,  with  the  song  of  rippling  water  in  our  ears,  and  I 
remember  taking  Alice  into  my  confidence  about  the  mys- 


A  GENEROUS  OFFER  213 

terious  loan.  She  listened  with  interest,  and  once  more  I 
noticed  how  ill  she  looked. 

"  You  have  more  good  friends  than  you  think,  Ralph ;  and 
it  was  of  service  to  you,  was  it  not?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  answered  with  emphasis.  "Of  the  greatest 
service!  Perhaps  it  saved  us  from  ruin,  but  at  first  I  al- 
most decided  not  to  touch  it." 

Alice  laughed,  a  clear  laugh  that  mingled  musically  with 
the  call  of  a  wood  pigeon  in  the  green  dimness  above. 

"  You  need  hardly  tell  me  that  —  all  great  men  have  their 
weaknesses;  but  seriously,  Ralph,  don't  you  think* if  the  good 
friend  desired  to  keep  it  a  secret  it  is  hardly  fair  to  try  to 
find  him  out?  No,  from  what  you  tell  me,  I  hardly  think 
you  will  unravel  the  mystery  while  the  donor  —  lender,  I 
mean  —  lives.  Besides,  even  if  you  never  do,  you  can  re- 
pay it  by  assisting  some  hard-pressed  comrade  in  distress. 
Yes,  I  should  fancy  the  person  who  lent  it  would  prefer  that 
way.  However,  I  want  to  tell  you  about  your  sister  Aline. 
She  has  grown  into  a  handsome  young  woman,  too  handsome 
almost  to  fight  her  own  way  unprotected  in  the  world,  but 
she  is  like  yourself  in  some  respects,  and  will  neither  live  with 
us  nor  let  your  uncle  help  her.  She  is  teaching  now  —  do 
you  know  what  women  are  paid  for  teaching  in  some  private 
schools?  And  I  don't  think  she  is  happy.  The  last  time  I 
saw  her  I  almost  cried  afterward,  though  she  would  only  tell 
me  that  she  was  choking  for  sunlight  and  air.  Even  her 
dress  was  worn  and  shabby.  Ralph,  you  know  how  old 
friends  we  are,  and  I  have  been  wondering  —  you  really  must 
be  sensible  —  whether  I  could  help  her  through  you?  " 

Something  stung  me  to  the  quick,  and  I  clenched  one 
hand  savagely,  for  in  the  grim  uphill  battle  I  had  nearly  for- 
gotten Aline.  It  was  so  long  since  I  had  seen  her,  and  when 
each  day's  hard  work  was  done  we  were  almost  too  tired  to 
think.     Still,  my  brow  was  crimson  with  shame  when  I  re- 


214      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

membered  that  my  sister  went,  it  might  be,  scantily  fed, 
while  what  plans  I  made  were  all  for  my  own  future  and 
Grace. 

"  That  is  my  part,"  I  answered  hotly.  "  She  should  have 
written  frankly  to  her  brother." 

Alice  stopped  me.  "  You  do  not  understand  women, 
Ralph,  and  she  knew  that  you  too  were  struggling.  Neither 
do  I  see  how  you  can  help  her  now,  and  it  would  be  a  favor 
to  me.  It  is  beyond  the  power  of  any  vigorous  man  with  a 
task  for  every  moment  to  realize  what  it  means  to  sit  still 
weak  and  helpless  and  know  that  even  wealth  cannot  bring 
respite  from  constant  pain.  Active  pleasure,  work  and  health 
have  been  denied  me  by  fate,  and  my  life  cannot  be  a  long 
one.  It  may  be  very  short,  though  your  uncle  will  not  allow 
himself  to  believe  it,  and  I  long  to  do  a  little  good  while  I 
can.     Ralph,  won't  you  help  me  ?  " 

With  a  shock,  I  realized  that  she  spoke  only  the  plain 
truth.  Indeed,  her  thin  eager  face  contracted  then,  and 
ever  afterward  I  was  glad  that  moved  by  some  impulse  I 
stooped  and  reverently  kissed  the  fragile  hand. 

"  You  were  always  somebody's  good  angel,  cousin,"  I  said ; 
"  but  I  am  her  brother,  and  this  time  I  can  help.  I  am  go- 
ing back  to  the  farm  at  Fairmead,  and,  if  she  is  longing  for 
open  air,  do  you  think  she  would  come  and  keep  house  for 
me?" 

Alice  blushed  as  she  drew  away  the  white  fingers,  but 
she  showed  her  practical  bent  by  a  cross-examination,  and 
eventually  she  agreed  that  though  there  were  objections  the 
clan  might  be  feasible. 

"You  write  to  her  by  the  next  mail,"  she  said,  "and  I 
will  write  too  —  no,  it  would  be  better  if  I  waited  a  little. 
Why?  You  must  trust  my  discretion  —  even  your  great 
mind  cannot  grasp  everything.  Now  I  want  you  to  tell  me 
all  about  Miss  Carrington." 


A  GENEROUS  OFFER  215 

Alice  had  a  way  with  her  that  unlocked  the  secrets  of 
many  hearts,  and  the  shadows  had  lengthened  across  the 
lawn  before  the  narrative  was  finished.  I  can  still  picture 
her  lying  back  on  the  lounge  with  hands  clasped  before  her, 
a  line  of  pain  on  her  brow,  and  the  humming  birds  flashing 
athwart  the  blossoms  of  the  arrowhead  that  drooped  above 
her.  Then,  glancing  straight  before  her  toward  the  ethereal 
snows,  she  said  with  a  sigh: 

"  I  can  see  trouble  in  store  for  both  of  you,  but  I  envy  her. 
She  has  health  and  strength,  and  a  purpose  to  help  her  to 
endure.  Ralph,  there  is  always  an  end  to  our  trials  if  one 
can  wait  for  it,  and  you  both  have  something  to  wait  for. 
Hold  fast,  and  I  think  you  will  win  her  —  and  you  know 
who  will  wish  you  the  utmost  happiness." 

Presently  we  went  down  together  to  the  boulders  of  the 
river,  and  watched  the  steelhead  salmon  pass  on  in  shadowy 
battalions  as  they  forced  their  way  inland  against  the  green- 
stained  current,  while  Alice,  whose  store  of  general  knowl- 
edge was  surprising,  said  meditatively: 

11  Theirs  is  a  weary  journey  inland  from  the  sea,  over 
shoal,  against  white  rapid,  and  over  spouting  fall,  toward 
the  hidden  valleys  among  the  glaciers  —  and  most  of  them 
die,  don't  they,  when  they  get  there?  There's  a  symbol  of 
life  for  you,  but  I  sometimes  think  that,  whether  it's  men  or 
salmon,  the  fighters  have  the  best  of  it." 

We  talked  of  birds  and  fishes,  and  of  many  other  things, 
while  once  a  big  blue  grouse  perched  on  a  fir  bough  and 
looked  down  fearlessly  within  reach  of  her,  though  when 
the  wrinkles  of  pain  had  vanished  Alice  seemed  happy  to  sit 
still  in  the  warm  sunshine  speaking  of  nothing  at  all.  Still, 
even  in  the  silence,  the  bond  of  friendship  between  us  was 
drawn  tighter  than  it  ever  had  been,  and  I  knew  that  I  felt 
better  and  stronger  for  my  cousin's  company. 

I'  was  some  time  after  dinner,  and  the  woods  were  dark- 


216       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ening,  when  Martin  Lorimer  and  I  sat  together  on  the 
carved  veranda.  There  was  wine  on  the  table  before  us, 
and  the  old  man  raised  his  glass  somewhat  hurriedly,  though 
his  face  betokened  unmistakable  surprise  when  again  I  men- 
tioned the  loan.  Then  he  lit  a  very  choice  cigar,  and  when 
I  had  done  the  same  he  leaned  forward  looking  at  me  through 
the  smoke,  as  changing  by  degrees  into  the  speech  of  the  spin- 
ning country,  he  said : 

"  You'll  listen  and  heed  well,  Ralph.  You  wTent  out  to 
Canada  against  my  will,  lad,  and  I  bided  my  time.  '  He'll 
either  be  badly  beaten  or  win  his  footing  there,  and  either 
will  do  him  good/  I  said.  If  you  had  been  beaten  I  should 
have  seen  to  it  that  my  only  brother's  son  should  never  go 
wanting.  Nay,  wait  'til  I  have  finished,  but  it  would 
not  have  been  the  same.  I  had  never  a  soft  side  for  the 
beaten  weakling,  and  I'm  glad  I  bided.  Now,  when  you've 
proved  yourself  what  Tom's  son  should  be,  this  is  what  I 
offer  thee.  There's  the  mill;  I'm  old  and  done,  and  while 
there's  one  of  the  old  stock  forward  I  would  not  turn  it  over 
to  be  moiled  and  muddled  by  a  limited  company.  Saving, 
starving,  scheming,  I  built  it  bit  by  bit,  and  to-day  there's 
no  cotton  spun  in  Lancashire  to  beat  the  Orb  brand. 
There'll  be  plenty  of  good  men  under  thee,  and  I'm  waiting 
to  make  thee  acting  partner.  Ay,  it's  old  and  done  I'm 
growing,  and,  Ralph  Lorimer,  I'm  telling  thee  what  none 
but  her  ever  guessed  before  —  I  would  have  sold  my  soul  for 
a  kind  word  from  thy  mother." 

For  a  time,  almost  bewildered  by  the  splendid  offer,  I 
stared  blankly  into  the  eddying  smoke,  while  my  thoughts 
refused  to  concentrate  themselves,  and  I  first  wondered  why 
he  had  made  it  to  me.  Now  I  know  it  was  partly  due  to 
the  staunch  pride  of  race  and  family  that  once  held  the 
yeomen  of  the  dales  together  in  foray  and  feud,  and  partly 
to  a  fondness  for  myself  that  I  had  never  wholly  realized. 


A  GENEROUS  OFFER  911 

Then  it  became  apparent  that  I  could  not  accept  it.  Grace 
would  pine  in  smoke-blackened  Lancashire,  as  she  had  told 
me,  and  I  knew  that  the  life  of  mill  and  office  would  grow  in- 
tolerable, while  the  man  who  acted  as  Martin  Lorimer's 
partner  would  have  small  respite  from  it.  There  was  Harry- 
also,  who  had  linked  his  future  with  my  great  project.  But 
the  offer  was  tempting  after  the  constant  financial  pressure, 
and  for  another  minute  the  words  failed  me. 

"  I  am  awaiting  thy  answer,  lad,"  said  Martin  Lorimer. 

Then  I  stood  up  before  him  as  I  said  slowly :  "  You  are 
generous,  uncle  —  more  than  generous,  and  it  grieves  me 
that  the  answer  can  only  be  —  no.  Give  me  a  few  moments 
to  explain  why  this  must  be  so.  I  could  never  settle  down 
to  the  shut-in  life;  and  half-hearted  work  would  only  be 
robbery.  You  would  demand  his  best  from  your  partner, 
wouldn't  you?  " 

"I  should;  brain  and  body,"  said  the  old  man,  grimly 
watching  me  with  hawk-like  eyes,  for  there  was  a  steely- 
underside  to  his  character. 

I  leaned  one  elbow  on  the  back  of  a  chair  as  I  continued : 
"  I  could  not  give  it.  Besides,  I  have  set  my  heart  on  win- 
ning my  own  fortune  out  of  the  prairie  —  I  am  in  honor 
bound  to  my  partner  Lorraine  in  this,  and  —  I  can  never 
leave  Canada  until  the  lady  I  hope  to  marry  some  day  goes 
with  me.  You  saw  her  at  the  opening  ceremony  —  Miss 
Carrington." 

Martin  Lorimer  smote  the  table,  which,  when  excited, 
was  a  favorite  trick  of  his. 

"  Thy  wife !  "  he  said  stupidly.  "  Art  pledged  to  marry 
Miss  Carrington  of  all  women,  lad?  And  does  she  care 
for  thee?" 

"  I  trust  so,"  I  answered  slowly,  as  I  watched  the  frown 
deepen  on  the  old  man's  face.  I  dreaded  the  next  question, 
which  came  promptly: 


218       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  And  what  does  the  iron-fisted  Colonel  say  as  to  thee  for 
a  son-in-law?  " 

It  took  me  at  least  five  minutes  to  explain,  and  I  felt  my 
anomalous  position  keenly  during  the  process,  while,  when 
the  story  was  finished,  Martin  Lorimer  laughed  a  harsh  dry 
laugh. 

"  Ralph,  thou'rt  rash  and  headstrong  and  a  condemned 
fool  besides,"  he  said.  "  Thee  would  never  have  made  a 
partner  in  the  Orb  mill.  Thou'rt  Tom's  bairn  all  through, 
but  I  like  thy  spirit.  Stand  up  there,  straight  and  steady, 
so,  while  I  look  at  thee.  Never  a  son  of  my  own,  lad; 
thou'rt  the  last  of  the  Lingdale  folk,  and  I  had  set  my  heart 
on  thee.  Ay,  I'm  the  successful  spinner,  and  I  paid  for  my 
success.  It's  hard  to  keep  one's  hands  clean  and  be  first  in 
the  business;  but  there's  no  one  better  knows  the  sign;  and 
travel,  and  maybe  Miss  Carrington,  has  put  that  sign  on 
thee.  Once  I  hoped  —  it's  past  and  done  with,  I'm  foolish 
as  well  as  old;  but  as  that  can  never  be,  I'm  only  wishing 
the  best  of  luck  to  thee." 

He  gulped  down  a  glass  of  the  red  wine  and  wiped  his 
forehead,  while  his  voice  had  a  hard  note  in  it  as  he  con- 
tinued :  "  Her  father's  a  man  of  iron,  but  there's  iron,  too, 
in  thee.  I  had  my  part  in  the  people's  struggle  when  Lan- 
cashire led  the  way,  and  then  after  a  trick  at  the  election  I 
hated  him  and  all  his  kind.  I've  a  better  reason  since  for 
hating  him.  We  can  beat  them  in  brain  and  muscle,  our 
courage  is  as  good  as  theirs,  and  yet,  if  you  weld  the  two 
kinds  together,  there's  not  their  equal  in  the  world.  He's 
proud  of  his  robber  forbears,  but  there  was  one  of  thine 
drew  a  good  bow  with  the  archers  at  Crecy.  Ralph,  thy 
news  has  stirred  me  into  vaporing,  and  the  man  who  built 
the  Orb  mill  is  prating  like  a  child.  Ay,  I'm  grieved  to 
the  heart  —  and  I'm  glad.  Fill  up  thy  glass  to  the  brim, 
lad  —  here's  God  bless  her  and  thee." 


A  GENEROUS  OFFER  219 

There  followed  a  clink  of  glasses,  and  some  of  the  wine 
was  spilt.  I  could  see  the  red  drops  widen  on  the  snowy 
tablecloth,  and  then  Martin  Lorimer  gripped  my  hand  in  a 
manner  that  showed  no  traces  of  senile  decay,  saying  some- 
what huskily  as  he  turned  away: 

"  I  want  time  to  think  it  over,  but  I'll  tell  thee  this.  Hold 
fast  with  both  hands  to  thy  purpose,  take  the  thrashings  — 
and  wait,  and  if  ever  thou'rt  hard  pressed,  with  thy  back 
right  on  the  wall,  thou'lt  remember  Martin  Lorimer  —  or 
damn  thy  mulishness." 

They  gave  me  the  same  advice  all  round,  and  perhaps  it 
was  as  well,  for  of  all  the  hard  things  that  fall  to  the  lot 
of  the  man  who  strives  with  his  eyes  turned  forward  the 
hardest  is  to  wait.  Still,  it  was  something  to  have  won 
Martin  Lorimer's  approval,  for  I  had  hitherto  found  him  an 
unsympathetic  and  critical  man,  who  bore  in  his  person  traces 
of  the  battle  he  had  fought.  There  were  those  who  called 
him  lucky;  but  these  had  lain  softly  and  fared  well  while 
he  starved  and  wrought,  winning  his  way  by  inches  until  he 
built  up  out  of  nothing  the  splendid  trade  of  the  Orb  mill. 

None  of  us  was  talkative  that  evening,  but  fervent  good 
wishes  followed  me  when  I  went  out  with  the  east-bound 
train  the  next  day,  and  until  the  dusky  pines  hid  her,  closing 
round  the  track,  I  saw  cousin  Alice's  slight  figure  with  her 
face  turned  toward  the  departing  train. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  RETURN  TO  THE  PRAIRIE 

"Vf7*E  were  busy  during  the  two  days  that  followed  my  re- 
turn, for  there  was  much  to  be  arranged;  but  at  last 
all  was  settled  satisfactorily.  The  surveyor  had  obtained  me 
free  transport  back  to  the  prairie  for  two  teams  that  would  not 
be  needed,  and  Harry  had  promised  to  take  charge  of  opera- 
tions in  my  place.  He  was  young  for  the  position,  or  would 
have  been  considered  so  in  England,  but  across  the  Atlantic 
much  of  the  hard  work  is  done  by  very  young  men,  and  I 
could  trust  his  discretion,  so  only  one  thing  remained  to  pre- 
vent my  immediate  return  to  Fairmead.  I  must  see  Grace 
before  I  went,  and  after  considering  the  subject  at  length 
I  determined  to  ride  boldly  up  to  the  Colonel's  ranch  and 
demand  an  interview.  Even  if  this  were  refused  me  I 
should  not  be  worse  off  than  before,  and  I  had  found  that 
often  in  times  of  uncertainty  fortune  follows  the  boldest 
move. 

I  rode  out  under  the  starlight  from  our  camp,  for  if 
all  went  well  I  hoped  to  turn  my  back  on  the  mountain 
province  by  sunset,  and  if  Harry  guessed  how  I  proposed  to 
spend  the  interval  he  made  no  direct  reference,  though  he 
said  with  unusual  emphasis  at  parting,  "  I  wish  you  good 
luck,  Ralph  —  in  everything.,, 

"  I'll  second  that,"  added  Johnston,  wringing  my  hand  as 
I  bent  down  from  the  saddle,  for  they  had  walked  beside  me 
down  the  trail;  then  I  shook  the  bridle  and  they  vanished 
into  the  gloom  behind.     It  may  have  been  mere  coincidence, 

220 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  PRAIRIE       221 

or  a  conceit  of  Johnston's  playful  fancy,  for  when  I  dipped 
into  the  valley  his  voice  came  ringing  after  me,  "  Oh,  who 
will  o'er  the  downs  so  free!     Oh,  who  will  with  me  ride?  " 

The  next  line  or  two  was  lost  in  a  clatter  of  hoofs  on 
shingle,  and  then  once  more  the  words  rose  clearly  above  the 
dewy  pines,  "  To  win  a  blooming  bride!"  More  of  the 
ballad  followed,  for  Johnston  trolled  it  lustily  as  he  strode 
back  to  the  shanty,  and  the  refrain  haunted  me  as  I  swept 
on  through  the  cool  dimness  under  the  conifers,  for  the  lilt 
of  it  went  fittingly  with  the  clang  of  iron  on  quartz  out- 
crop and  the  jingle  of  steel.  It  also  chimed  with  my  own 
thoughts  the  while,  and  the  last  lines  broke  from  my  lips 
triumphantly  when  we  raced  out  of  the  dusky  woods  into 
the  growing  light  under  a  giant  rampart  of  mountains,  be- 
hind whose  peaks  a  red  flush  broadened  in  the  east.  The 
mists  rolled  back  like  a  curtain,  the  shadows  fled,  and  the 
snow,  throwing  off  its  deathly  pallor,  put  on  splendors  of 
incandescence  to  greet  the  returning  day.  Nowhere  does 
dawn  come  more  grandly  than  in  that  ice-ribbed  wilderness 
of  crag  and  forest;  but  as  I  watched  it  then  I  accepted  the 
wondrous  spectacle  merely  as  an  augury  of  brighter  days  for 
Grace  and  myself,  and  for  a  last  time  the  ballad  echoed 
across  the  silent  bush  as  I  drove  the  good  horse  splashing 
through  a  ford. 

It  was  afternoon  when,  much  more  sedately,  for  the 
beast  was  tired  and  I  had  misgivings  now,  we  splashed 
through  another  river  into  sight  of  Colonel  Carrington's 
dwelling,  whose  shingled  roof  was  faintly  visible  among  the 
pines  ahead;  while  once  more  it  seemed  that  fortune  or 
destiny  had  been  kind  to  me.  A  white  dress  moved  slowly 
among  the  rough-barked  trunks,  and  because  a  thick  carpet 
of  withered  needles  deadened  the  sound  of  hoofs  I  came 
almost  upon  Grace  before  she  saw  me.  She  was  gazing 
at  the  ground ;  the  long  lashes  hid  her  eyes,  but  I  fancied  that 


222      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

a  suspicious  moisture  glistened  under  them,  and  there  was 
trouble  stamped  on  her.  face.  Then  as  I  swung  myself  from 
the  saddle  she  ran  toward  me  with  a  startled  cry  and  stopped 
irresolutely.  But  I  had  my  arms  about  her  even  as  she 
turned  half-away,  and  I  said  eagerly: 

"  Something  has  happened,  sweetheart.  You  must  tell  me 
what  it  is." 

She  sighed,  and,  trembling  a  little,  clung  more  tightly 
to  my  arm  when,  after  tethering  the  horse,  we  walked  slowly 
side  by  side  through  the  shadow  of  the  great  fir  branches. 

"  I  was  longing  for  you  so,"  she  said.  "  As  you  say,  some- 
thing has  happened,  and  there  is  no  one  to  whom  I  can  tell 
my  troubles.  What  I  feared  has  happened,  for  this  morn- 
ing Geoffrey  Ormond  asked  me  to  marry  him." 

"  Confusion  to  him !  "  I  broke  out,  driving  one  heel  deep 
into  the  fir  needles;  and  when  Grace  checked  me,  laying 
both  hands  on  her  shoulders,  I  held  her  fast  as  I  asked, 
11  And  what  did  you  say?  " 

She  smiled  faintly  as  she  answered,  "  This  is  not  the  age 
of  savagery,  Ralph;  your  fingers  are  bruising  me.  What 
answer  could  I  give  him  after  my  promise  to  you?  I  said, 
1  No.'  " 

"  Then  the  folly  is  done  with,  and  there  will  be  an  end 
to  his  presumption,"  I  answered  hotly.  But  Grace  sighed 
again  as  she  said : 

"  No,  this  is  not  the  ending.  You  are  fierce  and  stub- 
born and  headstrong  —  and  I  like  to  have  you  so ;  Geoff rey 
is  cool  and  quiet  and  slow,  and,  I  must  say  it,  a  chivalrous 
gentleman.  I  could  not  tell  him  all ;  but  he  took  my  answer 
gracefully,  saying  he  would  respect  it  in  the  meantime,  but 
would  never  give  up  hope.  Ralph,  I  almost  wonder  whether 
you  would  have  acted  as  becomingly." 

Perhaps  it  was  said  to  gain  time;  and,  if  so,  I  took  the 
bait  and  answered  with  bitterness : 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  PRAIRIE       223 

"  He  has  been  trained  and  polished  and  accustomed  to  the 
smooth  side  of  life.  Is  it  strange  that  he  has  learned  a  little 
courtesy?  Again  I  say,  confound  him!  I  am  of  the  people, 
stained  with  the  soil,  and  roughened  by  a  laborer's  toil;  but, 
Grace,  you  know  I  would  gladly  give  my  life  to  serve  you." 

"  You  are  as  God  and  your  work  have  made  you,"  was 
the  quiet  answer;  and,  drawing  closer  to  me,  she  added, 
"  And  I  would  not  have  you  otherwise.  Don't  lapse  into 
heroics,  Ralph.  What  you  did  that  day  in  the  canon  will 
speak  better  than  words  for  you.  Instead  you  must  listen 
while  I  tell  you  the  whole  story.  As  it  was  with  you  and 
your  cousin,  Geoffrey  and  I  —  we  are  distantly  related 
too  —  were  always  good  friends.  He  was  older,  and,  as  you 
say,  polished,  and  in  many  ways  I  looked  up  to  him,  while 
my  father  was  trustee  for  him  under  a  will,  and  when  he 
joined  the  army  my  father  continued,  I  understand,  to  man- 
age his  property.  Still  —  and  I  know  now  that  I  must  have 
been  blind  —  I  never  looked  upon  Geoffrey  as  —  as  a  possible 
husband  until  twelve  months  ago.  Since  then  my  eyes 
have  been  opened,  and  I  understand  many  things  —  most 
of  all  that  my  father  wished  it,  for  he  has  told  me  so,  and 
that  Geoffrey  is  heavily  interested  financially  in  his  ventures. 
I  know  that  he  has  sunk  large  sums  of  money  in  the  mine, 
and  they  have  found  no  ore,  while  I  heard  a  chance  whisper 
of  a  mortgage  on  Carrington.  Yet  Geoffrey  has  never  even 
hinted  to  me  that  he  was  more  than  a  small  shareholder. 
My  father  has  grown  aged  and  worn  lately,  though  only 
those  who  know  him  well  could  tell  he  was  carrying  a  heavy 
load  of  anxiety.  He  has  always  been  kind  to  me,  and  it  hurt, 
horribly,  to  refuse  to  meet  his  wishes  when  he  almost 
pleaded  with  me." 

The  scent  of  summer  seemed  to  have  faded  out  of  the 
air,  the  golden  rays  that  beat  in  between  the  great  trunks 
lost  their  brightness,  and  only  one  way  of  escape  from  the 


224       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

situation  presented  itself  to  me  as  again  the  refrain  of  the 
ballad  jingled  through  my  memory.  It  was  also  a  way  that 
suited  me.  If  Grace  and  I  could  not  be  married  with  the 
Colonel's  consent,  we  could  without  it;  and  I  thanked  Prov- 
idence that  she  need  suffer  no  actual  hardships  at  Fairmead 
now,  while  with  her  advice  and  encouragement  the  future 
looked  brilliant.  We  could  reach  the  flag  station  in  two 
hours  if  we  started  at  once.  And  then,  with  a  chill,  I  re- 
membered my  promise  to  the  Colonel,  and  that  I  stood,  as  it 
were,  on  a  parole  of  honor.  Yet  a  rash  promise  seemed  a 
small  thing  to  wreck  two  lives;  and,  saying  nothing,  I  set 
my  teeth  tightly  as  I  remembered  hearing  my  father  once 
say  long  ago,  "  I  am  thankful  that,  if  we  have  our  failings, 
none  of  us  has  ever  broken  a  solemn  promise.,,  Martin 
Lorimer  too  —  and  some  called  him  keen,  in  distinction  to 
scrupulous  —  I  remembered,  accepted  a  draft  he  had  been 
clearly  tricked  into  signing,  and  duly  met  it  at  maturity, 
though,  when  the  affair  was  almost  forgotten,  he  made  the 
man  who  drew  it  suffer.  And  so  the  inward  struggle  went 
on,  until  there  were  beads  of  perspiration  on  my  forehead 
and  Grace  said,  "  Ralph,  you  look  deathly.     Are  you  ill?  " 

I  did  not  answer,  and  was  afterward  thankful  that 
perhaps  fate  intervened  to  save  me,  for  I  almost  felt  that 
Grace  would  have  yielded  to  pressure  then.  There  were 
footsteps  in  the  forest,  and,  as  instinctively  we  drew  back 
behind  a  fir,  Colonel  Carrington  walked  savagely  down  an 
open  glade.  He  passed  close  to  us,  and,  believing  himself 
alone  in  that  solitude,  had  thrown  off  the  mask.  His  face 
was  drawn  and  haggard,  his  hands  were  clenched,  and  for 
once  I  read  fear  of  something  in  his  eyes ;  while  Grace 
trembled  again  as  she  watched  him,  and  neither  of  us  spoke 
until  he  vanished  among  the  firs. 

"  Ralph,"  she  said  quietly,  "  twice  I  have  seen  him  so  when 
he  did  not  know  it.     Perhaps  it  was  meant  that  this  should 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  PRAIRIE       225 

happen,  for  now  I  know  that  even  were  there  no  other 
obstacle  I  could  not  leave  him.  Sweetheart,  could  you  ex- 
pect the  full  duty  to  her  husband  from  the  woman  who  had 
signally  failed  in  her  duty  to  others?  " 

"  No,"  I  answered  with  a  groan.  "  But  is  there  no  hope 
in  the  present?  —  nothing  that  I  can  do?  " 

She  drew  my  face  down  toward  her  as  she  answered, 
"  Only  work  and  wait,  sweetheart,"  and  her  voice  sank  to  a 
low  whisper.  "  Heaven  forgive  me  if  I  wrong  him  in  telling 
you.  But  there  are  no  secrets  between  us,  and  you  saw  his 
face.  I  fear  that  inadvertently  he  has  lost  much  of  Geoffrey's 
money  in  rash  ventures,  as  well  as  his  own.  Geoffrey  would 
never  trouble  about  finance,  and  insisted  on  leaving  his  prop- 
erty in  his  hands,  while,  though  my  father  is  fond  of  specula- 
tion and  control,  I  am  afraid  he  is  a  poor  business  man." 

She  shivered  all  through,  and  said  nothing  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, while  I  tried  to  soothe  her ;  then  she  added  slowly : 

"  I  must  stand  beside  him  in  this  trouble ;  and  if  the  worst 
comes  I  do  not  ask  you  to  leave  me  —  it  would  be  wrong  and 
foolish,  and  I  know  you  too  well.  But,  though  I  have  read 
how  many  women  have  done  such  things,  I  will  never  marry 
Geoffrey.  It  would  be  a  crime  to  myself  and  to  him,  and 
he  is  far  too  good  for  such  treatment.  Sweetheart,  I  must 
leave  you,  and  it  may  be  so  very  long  before  we  meet  again ; 
but  I  hope  brighter  days  will  dawn  for  us  yet.  You  will 
help  me  to  do  what  I  ought,  dearest?  " 

Ten  minutes  later  I  rode  through  the  woods  at  a  break- 
neck gallop,  reviling  fate  and  all  things  incoherently,  until, 
as  the  horse  reeled  down  an  incline  amid  a  mad  clatter  of 
sliding  shale,  Ormond,  of  all  men,  must  come  striding  up 
the  trail  with  an  air  of  tranquil  calm  about  him.  There  is 
a  certain  spice  of  barbarism,  I  suppose,  in  most  of  us,  and 
in  my  frame  of  mind  the  mere  sight  of  his  untroubled 
face  filled  me  with  bitterness.     It  seemed  that,  in  spite  of 


226       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

her  refusal,  he  felt  sure  of  Grace;  and  something  suggested 
that  a  trail  hewn  at  Government  expense  was  free  to  the 
wealthy  well-born  and  the  toiler  alike,  and  I  would  not 
swerve  a  foot  to  give  him  passage.  So  only  a  quick  spring 
saved  him  from  being  ridden  down,  while  I  laughed  harshly 
over  my  shoulder  when  his  voice  followed  me :  "  Why  don't 
you  look  ahead,  confound  you  ?  " 

It  was  possibly  well  that  I  had  trouble  with  the  teams 
in  the  stock  car  on  the  railroad  journey,  and  that  work  in 
plenty  awaited  at  Fairmead,  for  the  steady  tramp  behind  the 
plough  stilts  served  to  steady  me.  After  three  weeks' 
endurance,  the  man  I  had  hired  to  help  mutinied,  and  stated 
plainly  that  he  had  no  intention  of  either  wearing  himself  to 
skin  and  bone  or  unmercifully  overworking  dumb  cattle,  but 
I  found  satisfaction  in  toiling  on  alone,  often  until  after  the 
lingering  darkness  fell,  for  each  fathom  of  rich  black  clod 
added  to  the  long  furrow  seemed  to  lessen  the  distance  that 
divided  me  from  Grace.  Then  little  by  little  a  measure  of 
cheerfulness  returned,  for  sun,  wind,  and  night  dew  had 
blended  their  healing  with  the  smell  of  newly-turned  earth, 
a  smell  I  loved  on  the  prairie,  for  it  told  that  the  plough  had 
opened  another  channel  into  treasure  locked  fast  for  count- 
less ages.  So  hope  was  springing  up  again  when  I  waited 
one  morning  with  my  wagon  beside  the  railroad  track  to 
welcome  my  sister  Aline. 

I  could  scarcely  believe  my  eyes  when  she  stepped  down 
from  the  car  platform,  for  the  somewhat  gawky  maiden,  as 
I  used  to  term  her  in  our  not  altogether  infrequent  playful 
differences  of  opinion,  when  similar  compliments  were 
common,  had  grown  into  a  handsome  woman,  fair-skinned, 
but  ruddy  of  color,  as  all  of  us  were,  and  I  was  embarrassed 
when  to  the  envy  of  the  loungers  she  embraced  me  effusively. 
The  drive  home  across  the  prairie  was  a  wronder  to  her,  and 
it  touched  me  to  notice  how  she  rejoiced  in  its  breadth  and 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  PRAIRIE       227 

freedom,  for  the  returning  luster  in  her  eyes  and  the  some- 
what too  hollow  face  told  their  own  tale  of  adversity. 

"  It  is  all  so  splendid,"  she  said  vaguely.  "  A  poor 
lunch,  you  say;  it  is  ever  and  ever  so  much  better  than  my 
usual  daily  fare,"  and  her  voice  had  a  vibration  that  sug- 
gested tearfulness.  "This  is  almost  too  good  to  be  true! 
I  have  always  loved  the  open  space  and  sun,  and  for  two 
weary  years  I  lived  in  a  dismal  room  of  a  dismal  house  in  a 
particularly  dismal  street,  where  there  was  nothing  but  mud 
and  smoke,  half-paid  work,  and  sickening  drudgery.  Ralph, 
I  should  ten  times  over  sooner  wash  milk-pans  or  drive  cattle 
in  a  sunlit  land  like  this." 

I  laughed  approvingly  as  she  ceased  for  want  of  breath, 
realizing  that  Aline  had  much  in  common  with  myself ;  while 
the  rest  of  the  journey  passed  very  cheerfully,  and  her 
face  was  eager  with  curiosity  when  I  handed  her  down  at 
the  house.  She  looked  around  our  living  room  with  dis- 
dainful eyes. 

"  It  is  comfortable  enough,  but,  Ralph,  did  you  ever 
brush  it  ?     I  have  never  seen  any  place  half  so  dirty." 

I  had  not  noticed  the  fact  before.  Indeed,  under 
pressure  of  work  we  had  usually  dispensed  with  small 
comforts,  superfluous  cleanliness  I  fear  among  them,  and 
Fairmead  was  certainly  very  dirty,  though  it  probably  differed 
but  little  from  most  bachelors'  quarters  in  that  region.  The 
stove-baked  clods  of  the  previous  ploughing  still  littered  the 
floor;  the  dust  that  was  thick  everywhere  doubtless  came  in 
with  our  last  thrashing;  and  the  dishes  I  had  used  during  the 
last  few  weeks  reposed  unwashed  among  it.  But  Aline 
was  clearly  a  woman  of  action. 

"You  shockingly  untidy  man!"  she  said  severely, 
"  Carry  my  trunk  into  my  room,  quick.  I  am  going  to  put 
on  an  old  dress,  and  make  you  help  me  clean  up  first  thing. 
Tired  ?  —  after  lounging  on  soft  cushions  —  when  I  tramped 


228       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

miles  of  muddy  streets  carrying  heavy  books  every  day.  You 
won't  get  out  of  it  that  way.  Go  away,  and  bring  me 
some  water  —  bring  lots  of  it." 

When  I  came  back  from  the  well,  with  a  filled  cask  in 
the  wagon,  she  had  already  put  on  a  calico  wrapper  and 
both  doors  and  windows  were  open  wide,  and  I  hardly  recog- 
nized the  dwelling  when  we  had  finished  what  Aline  said 
was  only  the  first  stage  of  the  proceedings.  Then  I  lighted 
the  stove,  and,  returning  after  stabling  the  horses,  found  her 
waiting  at  the  head  of  a  neatly-set  table  covered  with  a 
clean  white  cloth,  which  she  had  doubtless  brought  with 
her,  for  such  things  were  not  included  in  the  Fairmead  in- 
ventory. The  house  seemed  brighter  for  her  presence, 
though  I  sighed  as  I  pictured  Grace  in  her  place,  and  then 
reflected  that  many  things  must  be  added  before  Fairmead 
was  fit  for  Grace.  I  had  begun  to  learn  a  useful  lesson 
in  practical  details.  Aline  noticed  the  sigh,  and  plied  me 
with  questions,  until  when,  for  the  nights  were  getting 
chilly,  we  sat  beside  the  twinkling  stove,  I  told  her  as  much 
as  I  thought  it  was  desirable  that  she  should  know.  Aline 
was  two  years  my  junior,  and  I  had  no  great  confidence  as 
yet  in  her  wisdom. 

She  listened  with  close  attention,  and  then  said  medita- 
tively: "  I  hope  that  some  day  you  will  be  happy.  No,  never 
mind  explaining  that  you  must  be  —  marriage  is  a  great 
lottery.  But  why,  you  foolish  boy,  must  you  fall  in  love 
with  the  daughter  of  that  perfectly  awful  man!  There  was 
some  one  so  much  nicer  at  home,  you  know,  and  I  feel  sure 
she  was  very  fond  of  you.  Alice  is  a  darling,  even  if  she 
has  not  much  judgment  in  such  matters.  Oh,  dear  me, 
what  am  I  saying  now !  " 

"  Good  Lord !  "  I  said,  startled  by  an  idea  that  hitherto 
had  never   for  a  moment  occurred   to   me.     "  I   beg  your 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  PRAIRIE       229 

pardon;  but  you  are  only  a  young  girl,  Aline.  Of  course 
you  must  be  mistaken,  because  —  it  couldn't  be  so.  I  am 
as  poor  as  a  gopher  almost,  and  she  is  a  heiress.  Don't  you 
realize  that  it's  utterly  unbecoming  for  any  one  of  your 
years  to  talk  so  lightly  of  these  matters." 

Aline  laughed  mischievously.  "  Are  you  so  old  and 
wise  already,  Ralph  ?  "  she  asked.  "  Brotherly  superiority 
won't  go  very  far  with  a  girl  who  has  earned  her  own  living. 
As  you  say,  I  should  not  have  told  you  this,  but  you  must 
have  been  blinder  than  a  mole  —  even  your  uncle  saw  it,  and 
I  am  quite  right."  She  looked  me  over  critically  before 
she  continued,  as  though  puzzled :  "  I  really  cannot  see  why 
she  should  be  so,  and  I  begin  to  fancy  that  a  little  plain 
speaking  will  be  good  for  my  elder  brother." 

I  checked  the  exclamation  just  in  time,  and  stared  at 
her  while  I  struggled  with  a  feeling  of  shame  and  dismay. 
It  was  not  that  I  had  chosen  Grace,  but  it  was  borne  in 
on  me  forcibly  that  besides  wounding  the  feelings  of  the 
two  persons  to  whom  I  owed  a  heavy  debt  of  gratitude,  I 
must  more  than  once,  in  mock  heroic  fashion,  have  made 
a  stupendous,  fool  of  myself.  Such  knowledge  was  not 
pleasant,  though  perhaps  the  draught  was  beneficial,  and  if 
plain  speaking  of  that  kind  were  wholesome  there  was  more 
in  store,  for  hardship  had  not  destroyed  Aline's  inquisitorial 
curiosity,  nor  her  fondness  for  comments,  which,  if  winged 
with  mischief,  had  truth  in  them.  Thus,  to  avoid  danger- 
ous subjects,  I  confined  my  conversation  to  my  partners  and 
railroad  building. 

"  That  is  really  interesting,"  she  vouchsafed  at  length. 
"  Ralph,  you  haven't  sense  enough  to  understand  women ; 
but  axes,  horses,  and  engines,  you  know  thoroughly.  I'm 
quite  anxious  to  see  this  Harry,  and  wonder  whether  I 
could  tame  him.     Young  men  are  always  so  proud  of  them- 


230      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

selves,  and  one  finds  amusement  in  bringing  them  to  a  due 
sense  of  their  shortcomings,  though  I  am  sorry  to  say  they 
are  not  always  grateful." 

Then  I  laughed  as  I  fancied  the  keen  swordplay  of 
badinage  that  would  follow  before  she  overcame  either 
Johnston  or  Harry,  if  they  ever  met,  and  I  almost  wondered 
at  her.  This  slip  of  a  girl  —  for  after  all,  she  was  still 
little  more  —  had  faced  what  must  have  been  with  her  tastes 
a  sufficiently  trying  lot,  but  it  had  not  abated  one  jot  of  her 
somewhat  caustic  natural  gaiety,  and  there  was  clearly  truth 
in  my  partner's  saying :  "  One  need  not  take  everything  too 
seriously." 

When  with  some  misgivings  I  showed  Aline  her  room 
she  pointed  out  several  radical  defects  that  needed  immediate 
remedy,  and  I  left  her  wondering  whether  I  must  add  the 
vocation  of  a  carpenter  to  my  already  onerous  task,  and 
most  of  that  night  I  lay  wide  awake  thinking  of  what  she 
had  told  me.  When  I  rose  early  the  next  morning,  how- 
ever, my  sister  was  already  down  and  prepared  an  unusually 
good  breakfast  while  I  saw  to  the  working  beasts,  though  she 
unhesitatingly  condemned  the  whole  of  the  Fairmead  do- 
mestic utensils  and  crockery. 

"  I  am  breaking  you  in  gently,"  she  said  with  a  patroniz- 
ing air.  "  You  have  used  those  cracked  plates  since  you 
came  here?  Then  they  have  lasted  quite  long  enough,  and 
you  cannot  fry  either  pork  or  bacon  in  a  frying-pan  minus 
half  the  bottom.  Before  you  can  bring  a  wife  here  you 
will  need  further  improvement;  yes,  ever  and  ever  so 
much,  and  I  hope  she  will  be  grateful  to  me  for  civilizing 
you." 


CHAPTER  XXI 

THE    STOLEN    CATTLE 

["  HAD  broken  a  further  strip  of  virgin  prairie,  besides 
ploughing,  with  hired  assistance,  part  of  the  already  culti- 
vated land,  before  the  Indian  summer  passed.  All  day  pale 
golden  sunlight  flooded  the  whitened  grass,  which  sometimes 
glittered  with  frostwork  in  early  morning,  while  as  the 
nights  grew  longer,  the  wild  fowl  came  down  from  the 
north.  Aline  took  a  strange  interest  in  watching  them 
sail  slowly  in  endless  succession  across  the  blue,  and  would 
often  sit  hidden  beside  me  at  twilight  among  the  tall  reeds 
of  the  creek  until  with  a  lucky  shot  from  the  Marlin  I 
picked  up  a  brant-goose,  or,  it  might  be,  a  mallard  which 
had  rested  on  its  southward  journey,  somewhat  badly 
shattered  by  the  rifle  ball.  Then,  when  frost  bound  fast 
the  sod  and  ploughing  was  done,  she  would  ride  with  me 
toward  a  distant  bluff,  where  I  hewed  stouter  logs  than 
grew  near  us  for  winter  fuel.  Already  she  had  grown 
fuller  in  shape  and  brighter  in  color  with  the  pure  prairie 
air. 

Jasper  paid  us  frequent  visits,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  being 
badly  defeated  in  a  verbal  encounter  with  Aline,  after  which 
he  would  confine  his  talk  to  cattle-raising,  which  of  late  had 
commenced  to  command  increased  attention  on  the  prairie. 

"  This  is  too  much  a  one-crop  country.  Stake  all  on 
your  wheat  yield,  and  when  you  lose  it  you're  busted,"  he 
said,  soon  after  my  return.  "  Now  what's  the  matter  with 
running    more    cattle?     They'll    feed     themselves    in    the 

231 


232       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

summer;  and  isn't  there  hay  enough  in  the  sloos  if  you 
want  to  keep  them  ?  —  while  one  can  generally  get  a  good 
fall  profit  in  Winnipeg.  I've  been  picking  up  cheap  lots 
all  year,  and  if  you  have  any  money  to  spare  I'll  let  you  in 
reasonably." 

"  You  speak  like  an  oracle,  Mr.  Jasper,"  said  Aline. 
"  My  brother  is  what  you  might  call  a  single-crop  man. 
One  thing  at  one  time  is  enough  for  him.  Ralph,  why 
don't  you  try  a  deal  in  cattle?  " 

The  same  thing  had  been  running  through  my  own 
mind,  and  the  result  was  that  I  wrote  Harry,  who,  being 
of  a  speculative  disposition,  arranged  for  an  interim  payment, 
and  sent  me  a  remittance,  which  was  duly  invested  in  a 
joint  transaction  with  Jasper,  who  had  rather  over-purchased. 

"I'm  a  little  pressed  for  payments  just  now,"  he  said. 
"  Want  to  hold  my  wheat,  and  can't  afford  eight  per  cent, 
interest.  The  beasts  are  fattening  all  the  time,  and  there'll 
be  a  high-class  demand  in  Winnipeg  presently  for  shipment 
to  Europe." 

He  was  right;  and  I  began  to  have  a  respect  for  Aline's 
judgment  when  the  papers  reported  that  prices  were  rising 
fast,  and  stock-salesman  firms  sent  circulars  to  this  effect 
into  the  districts.  But,  when  I  conferred  with  Jasper, 
he  advised  me  to  hold  on.  "  The  figures  are  climbing,"  he 
said,  "  and  they'll  reach  high-water  mark  just  before  the  ice 
closes  direct  shipment." 

At  last  the  frost  commenced  in  earnest,  and  I  prepared 
to  settle  down  for  the  winter.  There  were  improvements 
to  be  made  to  the  granary,  implements,  harness,  and  stables, 
in  anticipation  of  the  coming  year's  campaign,  besides  al- 
terations in  the  house;  for  I  felt  that  many  things  might 
happen  before  next  autumn,  and  I  desired  that  Fairmead 
should  be  more  nearly  ready  if  wanted  to  receive  its  new 
mistress. 


THE  STOLEN  CATTLE  233 

Again,  however,  fate  intervened,  for,  instead  of  a  round 
of  monotonous  work,  many  stirring  events  were  crowded 
into  that  winter.  The  first  happened,  as  usual,  unexpect- 
edly, and  came  nearly  ruining  our  cattle-trade  venture. 
To  understand  it  satisfactorily  it  is  necessary  to  commence 
the  narrative  at  the  beginning. 

It  was  a  chilly  night  after  a  warm  day.  I  sat  beside  the 
stove  mending  harness,  while  Aline  criticized  the  workman- 
ship and  waxed  the  twine  for  me.  The  last  mail  had  brought 
good  news  from  Harry,  and  I  felt  in  unusual  spirits  as  I 
passed  the  awl  through  the  leather,  until  there  was  a  creak 
of  wagon  wheels  outside,  followed  by  a  pounding  on  the 
door. 

"  It's  too  bad,"  said  Aline.  "  We  are  both  tired  after  our 
ride,  and  I  was  looking  forward  to  a  chance  for  giving  you 
good  advice,  and  a  cozy  evening.  Now  some  one  is  coming 
to  upset  it  all." 

She  was  not  mistaken,  for  when  I  opened  the  door 
a  neighbor  said,  "  I've  brought  you  Mrs.  Fletcher.  Met 
her  walking  to  Fairmead  across  the  prairie.  No;  I  guess 
I'm  in  a  hurry,  and  won't  get  down." 

It  was  with  no  great  feeling  of  pleasure  that  I  led  the 
visitor  into  the  house;  and  it  is  curious  that  as  I  helped  her 
down  from  the  wagon  something  should  recall  Harry's  warn- 
ing: "That  fellow  Fletcher  will  bring  more  trouble  on  you 
some  day." 

He  had  done  enough  in  that  direction  already,  and 
though  I  did  not  wish  Aline  to  hear  the  story,  I  was  glad 
she  was  there,  for  preceding  events  had  taught  me  caution. 
So,  making  the  best  of  it,  I  placed  a  chair  beside  the  stove, 
for  Minnie  Fletcher  explained  who  she  was,  and  then,  while 
Aline  sat  still  looking  at  her  with  an  apparent  entire 
absence  of  curiosity  which  in  no  way  deceived  me  I  waited 
impatiently.     Minnie   had   not   improved   since    I    last   saw 


234       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

her.  Her  face  was  thin  and  anxious,  her  dress  —  and  even 
in  the  remoter  corners  of  the  prairie  this  was  unusual  — 
was  torn  and  shabby,  and  she  twisted  her  fingers  nervously 
before  she  commenced  to  speak. 

"  I  had  expected  to  find  you  alone,  Ralph,"  she  said ; 
and  though  I  pitied  her,  I  felt  glad  that  she  had  been  dis- 
appointed in  this  respect.  "  However,  I  must  tell  you ; 
and  it  may  be  a  warning  to  your  sister.  Tom  has  fallen 
into  bad  ways  again.  He  is  my  husband,  Miss  Lorimer, 
and  I  am  afraid  not  a  very  good  one." 

I  could  not  turn  Aline  out  on  the  prairie,  and  could 
only  answer,  "  I  am  very  sorry.  Please  go  on,"  though  it 
would  have  relieved  me  to  make  my  own  comments  on 
the  general  conduct  of  Thomas  Fletcher. 

"  It  was  not  all  his  fault,"  she  added.  "  The  boys  would 
give  him  whisky  to  tell  them  stories  when  he  went  to 
Brandon  for  the  creamery,  and  at  last  he  went  there  con- 
tinually. He  fell  in  with  some  men  from  Winnipeg  who 
lent  him  money,  and  I  think  they  gambled  in  town-lots,  for 
Tom  took  the  little  I  had  saved,  and  used  to  come  home 
rambling  about  a  fortune.  Then  he  would  stay  away  for 
days  together,  until  they  dismissed  him  from  the  creamery, 
and  all  summer  he  had  never  a  dollar  to  give  me.  But  I 
worked  at  the  butter-packing  and  managed  to  feed  him 
when  he  did  come  home,  until  —  Miss  Lorimer,  I  am  sorry 
you  must  hear  this  —  he  used  to  beat  me  when  I  had  no 
more  money  to  give  him." 

Aline  looked  at  her  with  a  pity  that  was  mingled  with 
scorn :  "  I  have  heard  of  such  things,  and  I  have  seen  them 
too,"  she  said.  "  But  why  did  you  let  him?  I  think  I 
should  kill  the  man  who  struck  me." 

Minnie  sighed  wearily.  "  You  don't  understand,  and  I 
hope  you  never  will.  Ralph,  I  have  tried  to  bear  it, 
but  the  life  is  killing  me,  and  I  have  grown  horribly  afraid 


THE  STOLEN  CATTLE  235 

of  him.  Moran,  a  friend  of  the  creamery  manager,  offered 
me  a  place  at  another  station  down  the  line,  but  I  have  no 
money  to  get  there  and  I  cannot  go  like  this.  Tom  is  com- 
ing back  to-night,  and  I  dare  not  tell  him,  so  I  wondered 
whether  you  would  help  me." 

"  Of  course  he  will,"  said  Aline,  "  and  if  your  husband 
comes  here  making  inquiries  I  hope  I  shall  have  an  oppor- 
tunity for  answering  him." 

I  had  the  strongest  disinclination  to  be  mixed  up  in  such 
an  affair,  but  I  could  see  no  escape  from  it.  There  were 
even  marks  of  bruises  on  the  poor  woman's  face,  and  when, 
promising  assistance,  I  went  out  to  see  to  the  horses  and 
think  it  over,  Minnie  Fletcher  burst  into  hysterical  sobbing 
as  Aline  placed  an  arm  protectingly  around  her.  She  had 
retired  before  I  returned,  for  I  fancied  that  Aline  could  dis- 
pense with  my  presence  and  I  found  something  to  detain  me. 

"  Ralph,  you  are  a  genius,"  Aline  said  when  I  told  her 
that  I  did  not  hurry  back,  "  I  have  arranged  to  lend  her 
enough  to  buy  a  few  things,  and  to-morrow  I'm  going  to 
drive  her  in  to  the  store  and  the  station.  No,  you  need 
not  come;  I  know  the  way.  Oh,  don't  begin  to  ask  ques- 
tions; just  try  to  think  a  little  instead." 

I  allowed  her  to  have  her  own  way.  Indeed,  Aline 
generally  insisted  on  this,  while  with  many  protestations  of 
gratitude  Minnie  Fletcher  departed  the  next  morning,  and 
I  hoped  that  the  affair  was  ended.  In  this  I  was  disap- 
pointed, for,  returning  with  Jasper  the  next  day  from  an  out- 
lying farm,  I  found  Aline  awaiting  me  in  a  state  of  sup- 
pressed excitement.  She  was  paler  than  usual,  and  moved 
nervously,  and  the  Marlin  rifle  lay  on  the  table  with  the 
hammer  drawn  back. 

When  Jasper  volunteered  to  lead  the  horses  in  she 
dropped  limply  into  a  chair. 

"  I    have    spent    a    terrible    afternoon,    Ralph.     In    fact, 


236      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

though  I  feel  ashamed  of  myself,  I  have  not  got  over  it 
yet." 

I  eased  the  spring  of  the  rifle  and  inquired  whether 
some  wandering  Blackfoot  had  frightened  her. 

"  No,"  Aline  answered,  "  The  Indians  are  in  their  own 
way  gentlemen.  It  was  an  Englishman.  Mr.  Thomas 
Fletcher  called  to  inquire  for  his  wife,  and  —  and  —  he  did- 
n't call  sober." 

Aline  choked  back  something  between  a  laugh  and  a 
sob  before  she  continued :  "  He  came  in  a  wagon  with 
another  little  dark  man  with  a  cunning  face,  and  walked 
into  the  room  before  I  could  stop  him.  '  I  want  my  runaway 
wife,  and  I  mean  to  find  her.  Who  the  deuce  are  you  — 
another  of  them  ?  '  he  said." 

I  found  it  hard  work  to  keep  back  the  words  that 
seemed  most  suitable,  and  perhaps  I  was  not  altogether 
successful,  while  Aline's  forehead  turned  crimson  and  she 
clenched  her  hand  viciously  as  she  added : 

"  I  told  him  that  I  was  your  sister,  and  he  laughed  as  he 
said  —  he  didn't  believe  me.  Then  he  swore  horribly,  and 
said  —  oh,  I  can't  tell  you  what  he  said,  but  he  intended  to 
ruin  you,  and  would  either  shoot  his  wife  or  thrash  her  to 
death,  while  the  man  in  the  wagon  sat  still,  smiling  wickedly, 
and  I  grew  horribly  frightened." 

The  rattle  of  harness  outside  increased,  and  turning  I 
saw  Jasper  striding  away  from  the  wagon,  which  stood  near 
the  open  doorway,  while  Aline  drew  in  her  breath  as  she 
continued :  "  Then  Fletcher  said  he  would  make  me  tell 
where  his  wife  was,  and  I  determined  that  he  should  kill  me 
first.  He  came  toward  me  like  a  wild  beast,  for  there  were 
little  red  veins  in  his  eyes,  and  I  moved  backward  round  the 
table,  feeling  perfectly  awful,  because  he  reeked  of  liquor. 
Then  I  saw  the  rifle  and  edged  away  until  I  could  reach  it, 
and   he   stopped    and    said    more    fearful    things,    until   the 


THE  STOLEN  CATTLE  237 

man  jumped  out  of  the  wagon  and  dragged  him  away.  I 
think  Fletcher  was  afraid  of  the  other  man.  So  I  just  sat 
down  and  cried,  and  wondered  whether  I  should  have  dared 
shoot  him,  until  I  found  there  wasn't  a  cartridge  at  all  in 
the  rifle." 

After  this  Aline  wept  copiously  again  and  while,  feeling 
both  savage  and  helpless,  I  patted  her  shoulder,  calling  her  a 
brave  girl,  Jasper  looked  in. 

"  I  won't  stop  and  worry  Miss  Lorimer  now,"  he  said 
shortly.  "  I'm  borrowing  a  saddle,  and  will  see  you  to- 
morrow.    Good  evening." 

He  kept  his  promise,  for  the  next  morning,  when  Aline 
was  herself  again,  he  rode  up  to  the  door  and  came  in 
chuckling. 

"  I  guess  I  have  a  confession  to  make,"  he  said,  "  Could- 
n't help  hearing  what  your  sister  said,  though  I  kept  banging 
the  harness  to  let  you  know  I  was  there,  so  I  figured  as  to 
their  probable  trail  and  lit  out  after  them.  Came  up  with 
the  pair  toward  nightfall  by  the  big  sloo,  and  invited  Mr. 
Fletcher  to  an  interview.  Fletcher  didn't  seem  to  see  it. 
He  said  he  wouldn't  get  down,  but  mentioned  several  things 
—  they're  not  worth  repeating  —  about  his  wife  and  you, 
with  a  word  of  your  sister  that  settled  me. 

" '  I'm  a  friend  of  Miss  Lorimer's.  Are  you  coming 
down  now,'  says  I. 

"'I'm  not,'  says  Thomas  Fletcher;  so  I  just  yanked 
him  right  out  on  to  the  prairie,  and  started  in  with  the 
new  whip  to  skin  him.  Asked  the  other  man  if  he'd  any 
objections,  but  if  he  had  he  didn't  raise  them.  Then  I 
hove  all  that  was  left  of  Fletcher  right  into  the  sloo,  and 
rode  home  feeling  considerably  better." 

He  laughed  a  big  hearty  laugh,  and  then  started  as  Aline 
came  out  of  an  inner  room. 

"  I  want  to  thank  you,  Mr.  Jasper,"  she  said.     "  There 


238       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

are  people  with  whom  one  cannot  argue,  and  I  think  that 
thrashing  will  do  him  good.  I  hope  that  you  did  it  thor- 
oughly." 

Jasper  swung  down  his  broad  hat,  fidgeted,  and  said 
awkwardly,  "  I  didn't  figure  on  telling  you,  but  if  ever  that 
man  comes  round  here  again,  or  there's  any  one  else  scares 
you,  you  won't  forget  to  let  me  know." 

Aline  glanced  straight  into  the  eyes  of  the  speaker,  who 
actually  blushed  with  pleasure  as  she  said :  "I  will  cer- 
tainly promise,  and  I  shouldn't  desire  a  better  champion, 
but  there  is  at  present  no  necessity  to  send  you  out  spreading 
devastation  upon  the  prairie." 

Jasper  looked  idiotically  pleased  at  this,  and  for  a  time 
we  heard  no  more  of  Thomas  Fletcher,  who  nevertheless 
had  not  forgotten  the  incident.  As  the  former  had  antici- 
pated, the  demand  for  shipping  cattle  still  increased,  and 
when  it  was  announced  that  several  large  steamers  were 
awaiting  the  last  load  before  the  St.  Lawrence  was  frozen 
fast,  Jasper  rode  west  to  try  to  pick  up  a  few  more  head, 
and  informed  me  that  he  would  either  telegraph  or  visit 
Winnipeg  to  arrange  for  the  sale  before  returning.  News 
travels  in  its  own  way  on  the  prairie,  and  we  afterward  de- 
cided that  Fletcher,  who  had  returned  to  his  deserted  home, 
must  have  heard  of  this.  Jasper  had  been  gone  several  days 
when  a  man  in  city  attire  rode  up  to  Fairmead  with  two 
assistants  driving  a  band  of  stock.  He  showed  me  a  cat- 
tle-salesman's card,  and  stated  that  he  had  agreed  with 
Jasper  to  dispose  of  our  beasts  on  commission,  and  as  the 
latter  was  waiting  in  Winnipeg,  he  asked  me  to  ride  over 
to  his  homestead  to  obtain  delivery.  This  I  did,  and  after- 
ward accompanied  him  to  the  railroad,  where  I  saw  the 
cattle  put  safely  on  board  a  stock  train,  and  early  the  next 
morning  I  returned,  feeling  that  I  had  done  a  good  stroke 
of  business. 


THE  STOLEN  CATTLE  239 

The  same  afternoon,  while  Aline  prepared  a  meal,  I  sat 
writing  a  letter  to  Harry,  telling  him  with  much  satisfac- 
tion how  well  our  investment  had  resulted.  Aline  listened 
with  a  smile  to  my  running  comments,  and  then  remarked 
dryly : 

"  I  think  you  have  forgotten  your  usual  caution  for  once, 
Ralph.  You  should  have  gone  with  them,  and  seen  the 
sale.  I  didn't  like  that  man,  and  once  or  twice  I  caught 
him  looking  at  you  in  a  way  that  struck  me  as  suspicious. 
I  suppose  you  are  sure  the  firm  he  represented  is  good  ?  " 

"  It's  as  good  as  a  bank,"  I  answered,  and  then  grew 
almost  vexed  with  her,  for  Aline  had  an  irritating  way  of 
damping  one's  enthusiasm.  "  Now  try  to  say  something 
pleasant,  and  I'll  buy  you  a  pair  of  the  best  fur  mittens  in 
Winnipeg  when  we  get  the  money." 

"  Then  I  hope  you  will  get  it,"  said  Aline,  "  for  I  should 
like  the  gloves.     Here  is  another  cattleman  going  south." 

She  placed  more  plates  on  the  table,  while,  throwing  down 
the  pen,  I  looked  out  of  the  window.  Here  and  there  the 
dry  grasses  were  buried  in  snow,  and  a  glance  at  the  aneroid 
suggested  that  we  might  have  to  accommodate  the  visitor 
all  night,  for  the  appearance  of  the  wTeather  was  not  promis- 
ing. He  came  on  at  good  pace,  wrapped  in  a  short  fur 
coat,  and  I  noticed  that  he  did  not  ride  altogether  like  the 
prairie-born.  When  he  dismounted  I  led  his  horse  into  the 
stable  before  I  ushered  him  into  the  room.  The  meal  was 
almost  ready,  and  we  expected  him  to  join  us  as  a  matter 
of  course.  He  was  a  shrewd-looking  young  man  with  a 
pleasant  face,  and  bowed  gracefully  to  Aline  as  he  said  in  a 
straightforward  way: 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  kindness,  madam,  and  must  in- 
troduce myself  —  James  Heysham,  of  Ross  &  Grant,  high- 
class  cattle-salesmen.  Best  market  prices,  immediate  settle- 
ments guaranteed,  reasonable  commission,  and  all  the  rest 


240       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

of  it.  Glad  to  make  your  acquaintance,  Mr.  Lorimer; 
here's  our  card.  I  rode  over  from  the  railroad  on  the  way 
to  Jasper's,  to  see  if  I  could  make  a  deal  with  you.  Now's 
the  time  to  realize  on  your  stock,  and  Ross  &  Grant  the 
best  firm  to  entrust  them  to.  Don't  want  to  accept  your 
hospitality  under  false  pretenses,  and  there  are  still  a  few 
prejudiced  Englishmen  who  look  down  on  the  drummer. 
Once  waited  on  a  man  called  Carrington  —  and  he  wasn't 
even  civil." 

"  Sit  down,"  I  said,  laughing.  "  This  is  my  sister,  and 
at  least  we  can  offer  you  a  meal,  but  you  are  too  late  to 
sell  our  stock.  I  have  just  returned  from  shipping  Jasper's 
as  well  as  my  own  under  charge  of  a  new  partner  of  Gard- 
ner's." 

Heysham  looked  puzzled.  "  It's  a  reliable  firm  —  al- 
most as  good  as  our  own,"  he  said.  "  You  must  not  smile, 
Miss  Lorimer;  when  one  earns  a  living  by  that  talk  it's 
hard  to  get  out  of  it.  But  they're  conservative,  and  never 
send  drummers  around.  Besides,  there's  only  Gardner  and 
his  brother  —  they  haven't  a  partner.  Now  I  wonder 
whether  " —  and  the  last  words  were  unintelligible. 

An  uneasy  feeling  commenced  to  grow  on  me,  and  our 
guest  looked  thoughtful. 

"  You  suspect  something,  Mr.  Heysham,"  said  Aline, 
"  and  you  ought  to  tell  us  what  it  is.  I  want  to  know  ex- 
actly what  you  meant  when  you  added  '  Confidence  men.'  ': 

Then  I  started,  and  Heysham  bowed  as  he  answered: 
"  You  are  evidently  new  to  the  wicked  ways  of  this  country, 
Miss  Lorimer.  I  meant  that  some  unprincipled  person  has, 
I  fear,  unfortunately  taken  your  brother  in.  I  have  sus- 
picions. Was  he  a  little  dark  man,  or  perhaps  it  was 
another,  rather  stout  and  red-faced?  Still  I'm  puzzled  as 
to  how  they  acquired  the  local  knowledge  and  learned 
enough  about  your  business  to  fool  you." 


THE  STOLEN  CATTLE  Ml 

"  No,"  I  answered  with  a  gleam  of  hope,  "  he  was 
neither;"  but  Aline  broke  in: 

"  The  man  you  mention  drove  here  in  a  wagon  some 
weeks  earlier,  and  I  know  how  he  got  the  local  knowledge 
—  the  other,  with  the  red  face,  was  Thomas  Fletcher.  He 
lived  on  the  prairie,  Mr.  Heysham,  and  there  must  have 
been  three  in  the  plot." 

I  rose  from  the  table,  flinging  back  my  chair,  but  Hey- 
sham nodded  gravely.  < 

"  Exactly ;  there  are  three  of  them.  Your  sister  has 
made  it  all  clear,"  he  said.  "  I  know  the  party  —  they've 
been  engineering  various  shady  deals  in  estate  and  produce, 
and  now,  when  Winnipeg  is  getting  uncomfortably  warm, 
this  is  evidently  a  last  coup  before  they  light  out  across  the 
boundary.  The  dark  man  was  a  clerk  in  the  stock  trade  — 
turned  out  for  embezzlement  —  once,  you  see.  Still,  they 
can't  sell  until  to-morrow,  and  we  might  get  the  night  train. 
No  chance  of  trade  hereabout,  you  say;  then,  for  the  credit 
of  our  market,  if  you'll  lend  me  a  fresh  horse,  I'm  going 
right  back  to  Winnipeg  with  you.  Sit  down,  and  finish 
your  dinner;  you'll  want  it  before  you're  through." 

I  looked  at  Aline,  who  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  "  You 
must  certainly  go,"  she  said.  "  Even  if  there  is  a  blizzard, 
I  shall  be  safe  enough." 

So  presently  she  buttoned  the  skin  coat  about  me,  slipped 
a  flask  of  spirits  into  the  pocket;  and  just  before  we  started 
kissed  me,  saying,  "  Take  care  of  yourself,  and  do  your 
utmost.  There  are  all  poor  Jasper's  cattle  besides  our  own. 
Mr.  Heysham,  I  thank  you,  and  whenever  you  pass  this 
way  remember  there's  a  hearty  welcome  for  you  at  Fair- 
mead." 

"  I  am  repaid  already,  madam,"  said  Heysham  as  we  rode 
away. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

A   RACE  WITH   TIME 

A  DREARY  ride  lay  before  us,  for  already  the  afternoon 
drew  toward  its  close,  and  the  light  drifts  were  eddy- 
ing under  a  bitter  wind.  The  pale  sun  was  still  in  the 
heavens,  but  a  gray  dimness  crept  up  from  the  grass-land's 
verge  toward  it,  against  which  the  patches  of  snow  gleamed 
lividly.  However,  I  thought  little  about  the  cold,  for  with 
careless  stupidity  I  had  allowed  a  swindler  to  rob  my  part- 
ner, and  a  succession  of  blizzards  would  not  have  stopped 
me  then.  Heysham,  though  uninterested,  seemed  equally 
determined,  and  rode  well,  so  the  long  miles  of  grass  rolled 
behind  us.  Now  a  copse  of  birches  flitted  past,  now  a  clump 
of  willows,  or  the  tall  reeds  of  a  sloo  went  down  with  a 
great  crackling  before  us,  then  there  were  more  swelling 
levels,  for  our  course  was  straight  as  the  crow  flies  from 
horizon  to  horizon,  and  we  turned  aside  for  no  obstacle. 

It  was  dusk  when  with  lowered  heads  we  charged 
through  the  scattered  birches  of  a  ravine  bluff,  and  far 
down  in  the  hollow  beneath  I  caught  the  dull  gleam  of  snow- 
sprinkled  ice. 

"  It's  a  mean-looking  gully,"  gasped  Heysham,  "  I  guess 
that  creek's  not  frozen  hard,  and  it's  pretty  deep.  Say, 
hadn't  we  better  lead  our  horses  ?  "  and  I  flung  an  answer 
over  my  shoulder: 

"  That  will  just  make  the  difference  between  catching 
and  missing  the  train.     I'm  going  down  in  the  saddle." 

"  Then  of  course  I'm  going  too,"  said  Heysham  breath- 


A  RACE  WITH  TIME  243 

lessly.     "  Your  neck  is  worth  as  much  as  mine  is  anyway.'* 

For  the  next  few  moments  I  saw  nothing  at  all  but  the 
shadowy  lines  of  birch  stems  that  went  reeling  past.  A 
branch  struck  Heysham 's  horse,  and  swerving,  it  jammed 
his  leg  against  a  tree;  then  there  was  a  crash  as  my  own 
beast,  blundering,  charged  through  a  thicket  where  the  brit- 
tle stems  snapped  like  pistol-shots,  but  the  salesman  was  close 
behind  me,  and  with  a  shout  of  "  No  bridge  for  miles.  I'll 
show  you  the  way  over,"  I  drove  my  horse  at  the  creek. 

The  quaggy  banks  were  frozen  hard  now.  They  were 
also  rough  and  ploughed  up  by  the  feet  of  cattle,  which  had 
come  there  to  drink  before  the  frost,  and  the  leap  looked 
horribly  dangerous,  for  I  dare  not  trust  the  ice;  but  the 
beast  got  safely  off  and  came  down  with  a  great  crackling 
amid  thinly  frozen  mud  and  reeds.  There  was  a  splash  and 
a  flounder  behind  me,  and  then  as  we  staggered  forth  Hey- 
sham  came  up  abreast,  with  the  water  dripping  from  his 
horse,  and  I  found  breath  to  exclaim: 

"  Well  done!  I  never  should  have  thought  a  city  man 
could  bring  a  horse  down  there." 

"  Thanks !  "  said  Heysham,  with  more  than  a  suspicion 
of  dryness.  "  In  this  enlightened  country  one  must  earn 
one's  bread  as  one  can,  but  I  wasn't  brought  up  to  the  drum- 
mer's calling.  Used  to  ride  with  —  but  that  has  nothing  to 
do  with  you,  and  I'm  hoping  you'll  strike  the  railroad  on 
the  shortest  possible  line.  It  wouldn't  be  nice  to  spend 
to-night  on  the  prairie." 

There  could  be  no  doubt  on  this  point,  for  when  we 
reached  the  levels  darkness  had  closed  down  and  the  air  was 
thick  with  uplifted  snow  which  smarted  our  eyes  and  made 
breathing  difficult,  while,  for  the  first  time,  I  commenced 
to  have  misgivings.  Heysham  had  understated  the  case,  for 
unless  we  struck  the  railroad  we  might  very  well  freeze  to 
death  on  the  prairie.     I   explained   this  to  him,   and   gave 


244       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

him  directions  how  he  could  find  a  farm  by  following  the 
creek;  but  he  laughed. 

"  It's  an  exciting  run,"  he  said,  "  and  even  life  in  Winni- 
peg grows  monotonous.  Lead  on,  I'm  anxious  to  be  in  at 
the  finish." 

The  snow  came  down  in  earnest  before  we  had  made 
two  more  leagues,  and,  steering  partly  by  the  wind  and 
partly  by  instinct  of  direction,  I  held  on  half-choked  and 
blinded,  more  and  more  slowly,  until,  when  at  last  the  case 
looked  hopeless,  Heysham  shouted,  for  a  telegraph  post 
loomed  up. 

"  You  have  reached  the  railroad,  anyway,"  he  said. 
"  The  only  question  is  —  how  far  from  the  station  are  we?  " 

We  drew  rein  for  a  few  moments  beside  the  graded  track, 
and  shook  the  snow  from  our  wrappings  as  we  debated  the 
simple  question  wThose  issues  were  momentous.  The  horses 
were  worn  out,  we  wTere  nearly  frozen,  and  the  white  flakes 
whirled  more  and  more  thickly  about  us. 

"  We  can  only  go  and  see,  and  the  track  at  least  will 
guide  us/'  I  said  at  last.  "  I  don't  think  the  station  can 
he  many  miles  away." 

The  rest  of  the  journey  left  but  a  blurred  memory  of  an 
almost  sightless  struggle  through  a  filmy  haze,  in  which  we 
occasionally  lost  each  other  and  touch  with  the  guiding 
poles,  until  at  last,  caked  thick  with  wind-packed  snow,  we 
caught  sight  of  a  pale  glimmer,  and  fell  solidly,  as  it  were, 
out  of  the  saddle  in  the  shelter  of  the  station.  Here,  how- 
ever, a  crushing  disappointment  awaited  us.. 

"  Stopping  train  passed  two  hours  ago,"  said  the  station 
agent.  "  Won't  be  another  until  the  Montreal  express 
comes  through.  Heard  the  stock  cars  passed  Brandon  by 
daylight  —  they'll  be  in  Winnipeg  now.* 

"  You  have  one  move  left,"  said  Heysham.  "  Hire  a 
special!     Comes  high,  of  course,  but  it's  cheaper  than  losing 


A  RACE  WITH  TIME  245 

your  cattle.  They  can't  sell  before  to-morrow;  and  you 
won't  be  hard  on  a  plundered  man,  agent?  That  locomo- 
tive ought  to  take  us  through." 

"  Can't  cut  schedule  prices,"  was  the  answer,  after  I  had 
explained.  "  I  haven't  a  single  car,  but  I  was  saving  Num- 
ber Forty  to  haul  in  wheat,  and  if  she  doesn't  strike  a  snow- 
block,  and  old  Robertson's  in  the  humor,  she'll  land  you  in 
Winnipeg  before  daylight  to-morrow.  It's  cutting  things 
fine,  however." 

We  put  our  horses  in  the  hotel  stable,  managed  as  a 
special  favor  to  obtain  some  food  in  a  basket,  and  then 
climbed  into  the  locomotive  cab,  where  the  Ontario  me- 
chanic stood  rubbing  his  hands  with  waste  while  a  grimy 
subordinate  flung  fuel  into  the  roaring  furnace. 

"  She's  the  best  machine  for  a  hard  run  on  this  road,"  he 
said,  as  he  clutched  the  lever  with  professional  pride.  "  All 
you  have  to  do  is  to  sit  tight,  and  I'll  bring  you  in  on  time." 

Then,  panting  heavily,  Number  Forty  rolled  out  from  the 
station  on  to  the  lonely  waste,  and  when,  as  we  jolted  over 
the  switches,  the  lights  died  out  behind,  Robertson  became 
intent  as  he  shoved  the  lever  home.  For  a  moment  the 
big  drivers  whirred  on  the  snow-greased  line,  then  the 
wheel-treads  bit  the  metals,  and  the  plates  commenced  to 
tremble  beneath  our  feet.  Staring  out  through  a  quivering 
glass  I  could  see  a  white  haze  rising  and  falling  ahead  as  the 
wild  gusts  came  down,  driving  an  icy  coldness  through  the 
vibrating  cab,  while,  when  these  passed,  there  was  only  the 
glare  of  the  huge  head-lamp  flickering  like  a  comet  down 
the  straight-ruled  track. 

Robertson  nodded  to  his  fireman,  for  Heysham  had  told 
him  the  story,  and  presently  the  vibration  grew  yet  sharper. 
The  gaunt  telegraph-posts  no  longer  swept  past  in  endless 
files,  but  reeled  toward  us  under  the  fan-shaped  blaze  hud- 
dled all  together  in  a  fantastic  dance,  while  willow  bluffs 


246       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

leaped  up  out  of  the  whiteness  and  vanished  again  as  by 
magic  into  the  dim  prairie.  The  snow  from  above  had 
ceased  temporarily.  Then  a  screaming  blast  struck  the 
engine,  wrapping  it  about  in  a  dense  white  cloud  that  glit- 
tered before  the  lamp,  the  glasses  rattled,  and  an  impalpable 
powder,  that  seemed  to  burn  the  skin,  drove  in  through 
every  opening.     Robertson  glanced  at  his  pressure-gauge. 

"  She's  doing  her  best,"  he  said,  "  and  she'll  need  to.  I 
guess  well  find  drifts  in  the  hollows,  and  the  snow  will 
come  down  again  presently.     It's  only  coming  up  now." 

I  ought  to  have  known  better,  but,  although  a  British 
custom  is  more  honored  in  the  breach  than  the  observance 
in  Western  Canada,  I  had  met  men  who  could  pocket  their 
pride,  and,  after  fumbling  in  my  wallet,  I  held  out  a  slip  of 
paper,  saying,  "  She's  doing  splendidly.  I  wish  you  would 
buy  Mrs.  Robertson  something  with  this." 

"  No,  sir!"  was  the  prompt  answer.  "You  can  keep 
your  bill.  If  that  fraud  gets  in  ahead  of  you  you'll  probably 
want  it.  I  get  good  pay,  and  I  earn  it,  and  you're  not  big 
enough  to  give  presents  to  me." 

A  new  arrival  might  have  been  astonished.  I  only  felt 
that  I  had  deserved  the  rebuke,  and  was  thankful  that  Aline 
had  slipped  the  flask  and  some  of  Martin  Lorimer's  cigars 
into  my  pocket,  while  Robertson  smiled  broadly  as  in  de- 
fiance of  his  orders  he  emptied  the  silver  cup.  It  was  a 
gift  from  my  cousin  Alice. 

"  I  apologize.  Should  have  remembered  it,"  I  said 
bluntly. 

Then  we  were  racing  through  stiller  air  again,  with  the 
driving  cloud  behind;  for  each  of  the  curious  rushes  of 
wind  that  precedes  a  prairie  storm  keeps  to  a  definite  path 
of  its  own.  Several  times,  with  a  roar  of  wheels  flung  back 
to  us,  we  swept  through  a  sleeping  town,  where  thin  frame 
houses  went  rocking  past  until  the  tall  elevators  shut  them 


A  RACE  WITH  TIME  247 

in,  and  again  there  was  only  a  dim  stretch  of  prairie  that 
rolled  up  faster  and  faster  under  the  front  trailing-wheels. 

At  last,  when  the  lights  of  Brandon  glimmered  ahead, 
Heysham  fell  over  the  fireman  as  the  locomotive  jumped  to 
the  checking  of  the  brake,  and  a  colored  flicker  blinked 
beside  the  track.  The  glare  of  another  head-lamp  beat  upon 
us  as  we  rolled  through  the  station,  while  amid  the  clash  of 
shocking  wheat-cars  that  swept  past  I  caught  the  warning: 

"  Look  out  for  the  snow-block  east  of  Willow  Lake ! 
Freight-train  on  the  single  track ;  wires  not  working  well !  " 

"  I  guess  we'll  take  our  chances,"  said  Robertson ;  and 
Number  Forty  panted  louder,  hurling  red  sparks  aloft  as  he 
rushed  her  at  an  up-grade.  Still,  his  brows  contracted 
when,  some  time  later,  he  beckoned  me,  and  I  saw  a  wide 
lake  draw  near  with  silky  drifts  racing  across  its  black  ice. 
They  also  flowed  across  the  track  ahead,  while  beyond  it 
the  loom  of  what  might  be  a  flag  station  was  faintly  visible 
against  a  driving  bank  of  cloud. 

"  Snow's  coming  off  the  ice,"  he  said.  "  Hold  fast!  She 
may  jump  a  little  when  I  ram  her  through." 

The  pace  grew  even  faster.  We  were  racing  down  an 
incline,  and  now,  ice,  station,  and  prairie  alike  were  blotted 
out  by  a  blinding  whiteness;  while  presently  I  was  flung 
backward  off  my  feet,  and  would  have  fallen  but  that  I 
clutched  a  guard-rail.  The  whole  cab  rattled,  the  great 
locomotive  lurched,  and  a  white  smother  hurtled  under  the 
lamp  glare,  until  once  more  the  motion  grew  even,  and  we 
could  feel  the  well-braced  frame  of  iron  and  steel  leap 
forward  beneath  us.  Engineer  Robertson  swayed  easily  to 
the  oscillation  as,  with  one  side  of  his  intent  face  toward 
me,  he  clutched  the  throttle  lever,  until  he  called  hoarsely 
as  his  fingers  moved  along  it.  Then,  even  while  the  steam 
roared  in  blown-down  wreaths  from  the  lifting  valve,  the 
lever  was  straight  at  wide-open  again,   and   I   caught  my 


248       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

breath  as  I  made  out  another  yellow  halo  with  something 
that  moved  behind  it  in  the  snow  ahead. 

"  It's  the  freight  pulling  out  of  the  siding.  I  can't  hold 
Number  Forty  up  before  she's  over  the  switches.  I  guess 
we've  got  to  race  for  it,"  he  said. 

The  fireman  did  something,  and,  with  a  shower  of  half- 
burned  cinders  from  her  funnel  and  a  mad  blast  of  the 
whistle,  Number  Forty  pounded  on.  Heysham's  face  was 
paler  than  before,  and  the  disc  of  yellow  radiance  grew 
nearer  and  brighter.  A  faint  flash  appeared  below  it,  a 
deeper  whistle  reached  us  brokenly,  and  I  remembered  two 
hoarse  voices. 

"  They're  opening  the  switches !  That's  come  on,"  one 
of  them  said.  "  Trying  to  check  the  freighter !  There'll 
be  an  almighty  smash  if  they  don't!  " 

The  other  was  apparently  Heysham's:  "  And  two  ras- 
cally confidence  men  will  be  skipping  for  the  border  with 
the  proceeds  of  what  should  have  been  Ross  &  Grant's  cat- 
tle." 

I  said  nothing.  It  did  not  seem  that  talking  would  do 
any  good,  and  the  engineer  might  not  have  welcomed  my 
advice.  The  great  light  was  very  close.  I  could  see  the 
cars  behind  it  and  hear  the  grind  of  brakes,  while  a  man 
was  bent  double  over  a  lever  where  the  blaze  of  our  head- 
lamp ran  along  the  ground.  The  engine  rocked  beneath 
us;  there  was  a  heavy  lurch  as  the  fore-wheels  struck  the 
points;  then  Robertson  laughed  exultantly  and  wiped  his 
greasy  face.  In  front  lay  only  the  open  prairie  and  flying 
snow,  while  the  black  shape  of  the  freight-train  grew  in- 
distinct behind. 

"  It  was  a  pretty  close  call.  Snow  blurred  the  lights,  and 
I  guess  the  gale  has  broken  a  wire,"  he  said.  "  Them 
folks  never  expected  us,  but  they  were  smart  with  the 
switches.     I'll  say  that  for  them." 


A  RACE  WITH  TIME  249 

"  Good  man !  "  said  Heysham.  "  She's  a  grand  machine. 
Next  to  riding  home  first  in  a  steeplechase  I'd  like  to  have 
the  running  of  a  lightning  express.  Used  to  do  the  former 
once,  but  now  Fate  she  says  to  me,  '  You  stop  right  there  in 
Winnipeg,  and  sell  other  men's  cattle  for  the  best  price  you 
can.'  Lorimer,  I  think  Number  Forty  has  saved  that  stock 
for  you." 

Then,  shivering  as  the  blasts  struck  the  cab,  we 
crouched,  alternately  frozen  and  roasted,  in  the  most  shel- 
tered corner  we  could  find,  while,  feeling  the  pulse  of  the 
great  quivering  machine  with  a  grimy  hand,  Robertson 
hurled  his  engine  along  past  Carberry  and  the  slumbering 
Portage,  until  at  last,  just  before  the  dawn,  sheeted  white 
from  head-lamp  to  tank-rail  and  dripping  below,  she  Came 
pounding  into  Winnipeg. 

"  We'll  let  that  slide.  I  don't  like  a  fuss,"  said  Robert- 
son, when  I  thanked  him.  "  Glad  to  do  our  best  for  you, 
Forty  and  me;  and  I  guess  the  Company  haven't  another 
machine  short  of  the  inter-ocean  racers  that  would  have 
brought  you  in  the  time." 

Then  we  interviewed  the  freight-traffic  manager. 

"  That  stock  consignment  came  in  hours  ago,"  he  in- 
formed us.  "  We  haven't  unloaded  them  yet.  Anyway, 
you'll  have  to  hurry  and  see  the  police,  for  we're  bound  to 
deliver  against  shipping  bill.  Don't  know  how  you  would 
square  things  after  that;  and  it's  not  my  business.  Still, 
I'll  have  those  cars  side-tracked  where  they  can't  be  got  at 
readily." 

Next  we  sought  the  police,  and,  after  driving  half  across 
the  city,  obtained  audience  with  a  magistrate,  the  result 
of  which  was  that  a  detective  accompanied  us  to  the  station, 
and  then  round  the  hotels,  inquiring  for  the  conspirators 
under  several  different  names.  None  of  them,  however, 
appeared  on  any  hotel  register,  until  we  called  at  a  certain 


250      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

well-known  hostelry,  where  our  companion  was  recognized 
by  the  clerk. 

"  Yes,  I  guess  we've  got  the  men  you  want,"  he  said, 
with  unusual  civility  for  a  Western  hotel  clerk.  "  Just 
stood  some  big  stock-buyers  a  high-class  breakfast,  and 
you'll  find  them  upstairs.  Say,  if  you  want  assistance  send 
right  down  for  me." 

"  We'll  probably  fix  them  without  you,"  was  the  smiling 
answer.  "  Only  two  doors  to  the  place,  haven't  you?  I'll 
leave  this  man  here  with  you,  sending  two  more  to  the 
other  one.  Walk  straight  in,  Mr.  Lorimer,  and  see  the  end 
of  the  play." 

We  entered  the  bustling  coffee-room,  where,  at  the  de- 
tective's suggestion,  I  ordered  refreshment,  and  he  placed 
us  at  a  table  behind  two  pillars.  Heysham  ate  and  chatted 
in  high  spirits;  but,  though  hungry  enough,  I  could  scarcely 
eat  at  all,  and  sat  still  in  irresolute  impatience  for  what 
seemed  an  interminable  time.  I  could  not  get  Minnie's 
worn  face  out  of  my  memory;  and,  though  her  husband's 
incarceration  would  probably  be  a  boon  to  her,  I  knew  she 
would  not  think  so.  Besides,  this  deliberate  trapping  of 
a  man  I  had  met  on  terms  of  friendship,  even  after  what 
had  happened,  was  repugnant;  and  the  cattle  were  safe. 
There  was,  however,  nothing  to  do  but  wait;  for,  alert  and 
watchful,  the  representative  of  the  law  —  who,  nevertheless, 
made  an  excellent  breakfast  —  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
door,  until  I  would  have  risen,  but  that  he  restrained  me, 
as,  followed  by  several  others,  Fletcher  and  a  little  dark 
man,  besides  the  one  who  had  cajoled  the  stock  from  me, 
came  in. 

"Stock-buyers!"  whispered  the  detective,  thrusting  me 
further  back.  "  Go  slow.  In  the  interests  of  justice,  I 
wrant  to  see  just  what  they're  going  to  do." 

The  newcomers  seated  themselves  not  far  from  the  other 


A  RACE  WITH  TIME  251 

side  of  the  pillar,  and  I  waited  feverishly,  catching  snatches 
of  somewhat  vivid  general  chatter,  until  one  of  the  party 
said  more  loudly:  "Now  let  us  come  down  to  business. 
I've  seen  the  beasts  —  had  to  crawl  over  the  cars  to  do  it 
—  and  they're  mostly  trash,  though  there  are  some  that 
would  suit  me,  marked  hoop  L.  &  J.  Say,  come  down  two 
dollars  a  head  all  around,  and  I'll  give  you  a  demand  draft 
on  the  bank  below  for  the  lot." 

What  followed  I  did  not  hear,  but  by-and-by  a  voice 
broke  through  the  confused  murmuring:  "It's  a  deal!" 
An  individual  scribbling  in  his  pocket-book  moved  toward 
a  writing  table.  Then  the  detective  stepped  forward,  beck- 
oning to  me. 

"  Sorry  to  spoil  trade,  but  I've  saved  your  check,  gen- 
tlemen," he  said.  "  That  stock's  stolen.  Thomas  Gorst 
and  other  names,  Will  Stephens,  and  Thomas  Fletcher, 
would  you  like  to  glance  at  this  warrant  ?  No !  well,  it's  no 
use  looking  ugly,  there  are  men  at  either  door  waiting  for 
you.  This  is  a  new  trick,  Stephens,  and  you  haven't  played 
it  neatly." 

"  Euchred !  "  gasped  the  little  man,  while  the  other 
scowled  at  me. 

"Confusion  to  you!  In  another  hour  I'd  have  been 
rustling  for  the  Great  Republic.  Still,  I  guess  the  game's 
up.     Don't  be  a  mule,  Fletcher;  I'm  going  quietly." 

He  held  out  his  hands  with  a  resigned  air,  but  when, 
amid  exclamations  of  wonder,  another  officer  appeared  mys- 
teriously from  somewhere  to  slip  on  the  handcuffs,  Fletcher 
hurled  a  decanter  into  his  face  and  sprang  wildly  for  the 
door.  He  passed  within  a  yard  of  where  I  stood.  I  could 
have  stopped  him  readily  with  an  outstretched  foot  or  hand, 
but  I  did  neither,  and  there  was  an  uproar  as  he  plunged 
down  the  stairway  with  an  officer  close  behind  him.  The 
detective  saw  his  other  prisoners  handcuffed  before  he  fol- 


252      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

lowed,  and  though  he  said  nothing  he  gazed  at  me  reproach- 
fully. When  we  stood  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  he  chuckled 
as  he  pointed  below. 

"  Your  friend  hasn't  got  very  far,"  he  said  dryly. 

It  was  true  enough,  for  in  the  hall  a  stalwart  constable 
sat  on  the  chest  of  a  fallen  man  who  apparently  strove  to 
bite  him,  and  I  saw  that  the  latter  was  Thomas  Fletcher. 
I  had  clearly  been  guilty  of  a  dereliction  of  the  honest 
citizen's  duty,  but  for  all  that  I  did  not  like  the  manner 
in  which  he  said,  "  Your  friend." 

We  returned  to  the  station,  and  later  in  the  day  I  en- 
tertained Robertson  and  Heysham  with  the  best  luncheon  I 
could  procure,  when  for  once  we  drank  success  to  Number 
Forty  in  choice  vintages. 

"  I  can't  sufficiently  thank  you,  Heysham,"  I  said  when 
we  shook  hands.  "  Now,  advise  me  about  those  cattle ;  and 
is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you?  " 

"  Enjoyed  the  fun,"  was  the  answer,  "  and  you  gave  me 
a  free  passage  to  Winnipeg.  I  didn't  do  it  for  that  reason, 
but  if  you  like  to  leave  the  disposal  of  those  beasts  to  Ross 
&  Grant,  highest-class  salesmen,  promptest  settlements,  etc., 
I  shall  be  pleased  to  trade  with  you.  Sorry  to  intrude 
business,  but  after  all  I'm  a  drummer,  and  one  must  earn 
one's  bread  and  butter  —  see?" 

I  had  much  pleasure  in  agreeing,  and  Ross  &  Grant 
sold  those  beasts  to  my  complete  satisfaction  and  Jasper's 
as  well,  while  that  was  but  the  beginning  of  a  profitable 
connection  with  them,  and  an  acquaintance  with  Heysham, 
who  was  from  the  first  a  friend  of  Aline's  and  is  tiow  sole 
partner  in  the  firm.  Still,  though  I  returned  to  Fairmead 
with  the  proceeds,  satisfied,  it  transpired  that.  Thomas 
Fletcher  was  not  yet  past  doing  me  a  further  injury. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL 

'^'OTHING  further  of  moment  happened  for  a  time. 
Fletcher,  protesting  his  innocence,  lay  awaiting  trial 
with  his  accomplices,  and  I  had  been  warned  that  I  should 
be  called  on  to  give  evidence,  which  I  was  'unwilling  to 
do ;  and,  after  consulting  a  solicitor,  I  endeavored  in  the 
meantime  to  forget  the  disagreeable  affair.  Then  one 
morning,  when  the  snow  lay  thick  on  the  shingles,  and  the 
creek  in  the  ravine  was  frozen  almost  to  the  bottom,  the 
fur-wrapped  postman  brought  me  a  letter  from  Harry. 

"  I  have  only  good  news,"  it  ran.  "  We  have  piled  up 
beams  and  stringers  ahead  of  contract,  and  sold  a  number  of 
logs  a  snow-slide  brought  us  at  a  good  profit,  ready  for 
floating  down  to  a  new  sawmill  in  the  valley.  That,  how- 
ever, is  by  the  way.  As  you  know,  Johnston  has  quartz 
reefs  on  the  brain,  and  now  fancies  he  is  really  on  the  track 
of  one.  There  have  been  rumors  of  rich  gold  west  of  the 
Fraser,  and  one  of  our  prospecting  friends  came  in  almost 
snow-blind  with  promising  specimens.  Nothing  will  stop 
Johnston,  and  I'm  bitten  myself,  so  the  fact  is  we're  going 
up  to  find  that  gold.  Of  course,  it's  the  wrong  time;  but 
there'll  \>e  a  rush  in  spite  of  that.  In  short,  we  want  you, 
and  I  managed  to  secure  this  railroad  pass." 

I  showed  Aline  the  letter,  and  she  said,  "  Why  don't  you 
go?  I  can  stay  with  the  Kenyons;  they  have  often  asked 
me.  It  would  be  splendid,  wouldn't  it,  if  you  were  to  find 
a  gold  mine?  " 

253 


254      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I  nodded  rather  gravely.  Gold  mines  worth  developing 
are  singularly  hard  to  find,  and  when  found  generally  need 
a  large  capital  to  work  them,  while  the  company  financier 
gets  the  pickings.  The  steady  following  up  of  one  con- 
sistent plan  more  commended  itself  to  me,  and  prospecting 
in  mid-winter  would  try  the  strength  of  a  giant.  Still,  if 
my  partners  were  bent  on  it  they  would  naturally  expect 
me  to  humor  them  in  the  matter,  and  there  was  a  hope  of 
seeing  Grace,  so  I  answered: 

"  I  wish  they  had  never  heard  of  it ;  but,  if  Mrs.  Ken- 
yon  will  take  care  of  you  for  a  few  weeks,  I  must  go." 

Aline  was  evidently  prepared  to  bear  my  absence  philo- 
sophically, and,  perhaps  because  one  of  Mrs.  Kenyon's  sons 
was  a  handsome  stripling,  she  spent  all  day  sewing,  while  I 
gathered  up  my  belongings  and  rode  over  to  interview  that 
lady,  who  had  lately  come  out  from  Ontario,  and  professed 
herself  delighted  to  receive  my  sister.  Thus  it  happened 
that  one  morning  before  daybreak  I  stood  beside  a  burdened 
pack-horse  with  a  load  of  forty  pounds  strapped  about  my 
shoulders,  outside  a  log  shanty,  ready  to  strike  out  into  the 
snow-bound  northern  wilderness.  Johnston,  who  was  in 
high  spirits,  held  the  bridle  of  another  horse,  and  Harry 
whistled  gaily  as  with  the  assistance  of  a  prospector  he 
strapped  a  heavy  collection  of  sundries  upon  its  back,  while 
the  owner  of  the  shanty  watched  us  with  a  fine  assump- 
tion of  pity, 

"Lots  of  gold  up  yonder!  Well,  I  guess  there  is,"  he 
said.  "  But  maybe  you'll  get  mighty  tired  before  you  find 
it,  and  this  isn't  quite  the  season  to  go  sloshing  round 
glaciers  and  snow-fields.  Don't  I  wish  I  was  coming? 
Can't  say  I  do.  Go  slow  arrd  steady  is  my  motto,  and  you'll 
turn  more  gold  out  of  the  earth  with  the  plough  than  you 
ever  will  with  the  drill,  and  considerably  easier,  too. 
There's  another  outfit  yonder  ahead  of  you,  and  a  third  one 


ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL  255 

coming  along.     Look  in  this  way  if  you  come  back  hungry." 

Johnston  smote  the  pack-horse,  and  there  was  a  clash  of 
rifles,  axes,  tin  pans  and  kettles  as  we  moved  off  into  the 
forest,  which  was  free  of  undergrowth  here. 

"  That  was  a  sensible  man,"  I  observed.  "  Harry,  I 
can't  help  feeling  that  this  gold  hunting  is  not  our  business, 
and  no  good  will  come  of  it." 

"  Then  you  needn't  say  so,"  Harry  answered  shortly. 
"  If  I  were  troubled  with  old  women's  presentiments  I 
should  keep  them  to  myself.  The  man  we  have  with  us 
knows  the  country  well,  and  from  what  the  other  half 
revealed  we  ought  to  find  something.  I'm  wondering  who 
got  up  the  other  expedition,  unless  it's  Ormond.  The  Day 
Spring  is  doing  even  worse  lately,  and  the  Colonel  has 
gone  down  to  Vancouver  to  raise  fresh  funds  or  sell  it  to 
a  company,  which  would  be  rough  on  the  company.  Your 
uncle  and  your  cousin  are  wintering  there." 

This  gave  me  food  for  thought,  and  I  trudged  on, 
dreamily  noticing  how  the  tramp  of  feet  and  the  clatter  of 
metal  broke  through  the  ghostly  silence,  while  half-seen 
figures  of  man  and  beast  appeared  and  vanished  among  the 
trunks,  and  the  still  woods  seemed  listening  to  our  march. 
I  knew  that  in  the  old  days  the  feet  of  a  multitude  had 
worn  trails  through  these  ranges  as  they  pressed  on  toward 
the  treasure  of  Cassiar  and  Caribou,  and  that  the  bones  of 
many  were  strewn  broadcast  across  the  region  into  which 
we  were  venturing.  Perhaps  it  was  because  of  the  old 
Lancashire  folk-lore  I  once  had  greedily  listened  to,  but 
I  could  not  altogether  disbelieve  in  presentiments,  and  my 
dislike  to  the  journey  deepened  until  Johnston's  voice  rose 
clearly  through  the  frosty  air:  "There's  shining  gold  in 
heaps,  I'm  told,  by  the  banks  of  Sacramento." 

The  rest  was  the  usual  forecastle  gibberish,  but,  and  it 
may  have  been  that  our  partner  being  born  with  the  wan- 


256      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

derer  s  spirits  could  give  meaning  to  the  immemorial  calling 
that  speaks  to  the  hearts  of  the  English  through  the  rude 
chanteys  of  the  sea,  something  stirred  me  when  the  refrain 
rose  up  exultantly,  "  Blow,  boys,  blow,  for  Californio,  for 
there's  shining  gold  and  wealth  untold  on  the  sunny  Sac- 
ramento." 

"Where  did  he  learn  the  trick  of  it?"  said  Harry. 
"  There's  certainly  nothing  in  the  words,  and  yet  that  song 
takes  hold.  I  dare  say  many  a  poor  deserter  devil  has 
marched  to  his  death  to  it.  The  seamen  came  up  with  the 
vanguard  when  they  found  gold  in  Caribou.  Wake  up,  and 
ring  it  out,  Ralph.  A  tribute  to  the  fallen.  *  Hey  ho, 
Sacramento !  '  " 

I  have  heard  that  chantey  since.  On  certain  occasions 
Harry  brings  out  its  final  chords  on  the  Fairmead  piano 
with  a  triumphant  crash  that  has  yet  a  tremble  in  it,  and 
each  time  it  conjures  up  a  vision  of  spectral  pines  towering 
through  the  shadow  that  veils  the  earth  below,  while  above 
the  mists  the  snow  lies  draped  in  stainless  purity  waiting 
for  the  dawn.  Then  I  know  that  Harry,  who  is  only  a 
tiller  of  the  soil,  had  learned  in  the  book  of  nature  to  grasp 
the  message  of  that  scene,  and  interpret  it  through  the  close 
of  a  seaman's  ballad. 

The  full  story  of  our  journey  would  take  long  to  tell, 
and  a  recital  of  how  we  struggled  through  choked  forests, 
floundered  amid  the  drifts  in  the  passes,  or  crawled  along 
the  icy  rock-slope's  side,  might  prove  monotonous.  We 
left  the  ashes  of  our  camp-fires  in  many  a  burnt  brulee  and 
among  the  boulders  of  lonely  lakes,  but  though,  after  one 
pack-horse  fell  over  a  precipice,  provisions  ran  out  rapidly, 
we  failed  to  find  the  gorge  the  prospector  talked  about;  or 
rather,  because  the  whole  land  was  fissured  by  them,  we 
found  many  gorges,  but  each  in  succession  proved  to  be 
the  wrong  one.     Then  we  held  consultations,  and  the  pros- 


ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL  257 

pector  suggested  that  we  should  return  and  try  again  in  the 
spring,  to  which  Harry  agreed.  Johnston,  however,  would 
not  hear  of  this,  and  said  with  a  strange  assurance: 

"  I  suppose  it's  the  gambler's  spirit,  but  I've  gone  pros- 
pecting somewhat  too  often  before,  and  if  one  only  keeps 
on  long  enough  the  luck  is  bound  to  turn.  This  time  I 
seem  to  know  it's  going  to.  Still,  111  fall  in  with  the 
majority.  Ralph,  as  head  of  the  firm  you  have  the  casting 
vote.,, 

Then,  and  I  always  regretted  it,  I  said :  "  We  should 
never  have  come  at  all.  No  sensible  person  goes  prospect- 
ing in  mid-winter;  but,  being  here,  we  had  better  spend 
three  days  more.  That  means  further  reduced  rations,  but 
if  we  find  nothing  by  the  third  noon  we'll  turn  back  forth- 
with." 

The  others  agreed,  and  on  the  second  night  we  lay  in 
camp  in  a  burnt  forest.  We  were  all  tired  and  hungry, 
and  —  for  Johnston  was  silent  —  a  melancholy  settled  down 
upon  the  camp,  while  I  lay  nearly  frozen  under  two  blan- 
kets, watching  a  half-moon  sail  slowly  above  the  fretted 
ridge  of  firs.     At  last  Johnston  spoke: 

"  To-morrow  is  the  fatal  day.  Ralph  has  the  look  of 
an  unsatisfied  wolf;  you  are  hungry,  Harry;  we  are  all 
hungry,  and  such  is  mortal  man  that  at  this,  moment  my 
soul  longs  more  than  all  things  for  even  the  most  cindery 
flapjack  that  ever  came  out  of  a  camp  cook's  frying-pan. 
Still,  I'm  not  going  home  '  returned  empty '  this  time,  and 
fragments  of  a  forgotten  verse  keep  jingling  through  my 
head.  It's  an  encouraging  stanza,  to  the  effect  that,  though 
often  one  gets  weary,  the  long,  long  road  has  a  turning,  and 
there's  an  end  at  last.  It  would  be  particularly  nice  if  it 
ended  up  in  a  quartz  reef  that  paid  for  the  stamping, 
especially  when  one  might  square  up  some  of  one's  youthful 
misdeeds  with   the   proceeds.     Ever   heard   me   moralizing, 


258      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Ralph?  The  question  is  whether  one  can  ever  square  the 
reckoning  of  such  foolishness." 

"  I  haven't  thought  about  it,"  I  answered,  remembering 
how  when  Johnston  harangued  the  railroaders'  camp,  banjo 
in  hand,  he  would  mix  up  the  wildest  nonsense  with  senti- 
ment. "  But  it's  an  axiom,  isn't  it,  that  a  man  must  pay  for 
his  fun,  and  if  you  will  go  looking  for  gold  mines  in  win- 
ter you  can't  expect  to  be  comfortable." 

"  He  hasn't  thought  about  it,"  said  Johnston.  "  Ralph, 
all  things  considered,  you  are  a  lucky  individual.  What  can 
man  want  better  than  to  win  his  way  to  fortune,  and  the 
love  of  a  virtuous  maid,  tramping  behind  his  oxen  under 
clear  sunshine  down  the  half-mile  furrow,  looking  only  for 
the  harvest,  and  sowing  hope  with  the  grain.  There's  a 
restfulness  about  it  that  appeals  to  me.  Some  men  are  born 
with  a  chronic  desire  for  rest." 

"  I  don't  think  you  were  among  them,"  I  answered 
irritably;  "and  there's  precious  little  rest  in  summer  on 
the  prairie ; "  but  Johnston  continued : 

"  I  too  loved  a  virtuous  maiden,  and,  stranger  still,  I 
fancy  she  loved  me,  but  unfortunately  there  was  one  of  the 
other  kind  too,  and  the  result  thereof  was  as  usual  —  disas- 
ter. I've  been  trying  to  remedy  that  disaster  —  did  you 
ever  wonder  where  my  dividends  went  to?  Well,  there 
is  a  reason  why  I'm  anxious  to  find  a  mine.  If  we  do,  I'll 
tell  you  the  sequel.  Otherwise  —  and  things  do  happen 
unexpectedly  —  there's  a  leather  case  in  my  pocket,  and  in 
case  of  accident  I  hope  my  partners  will  act  on  what  they 
find  in  it.  Perhaps  some  one  in  England  would  bless  them 
if  they  did." 

He  ceased,  and  some  time  later  a  vibratory  monotone 
commenced  far  up  under  the  stars,  gathering  strength  and 
volume  until  it  rolled  in  long  pulsations  down  the  steep 
ranges'  side. 


ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL  25» 

"  It's  more  common  in  spring,"  remarked  the  prospector, 
"  but  some  ice  bridge  has  busted  under  pressure,  and  the 
snow  is  coming  down.  There'll  be  most  astonishing  chaos 
in  the  next  valley." 

I  cannot  say  how  long  the  great  harmony  lasted,  for  we 
listened  spellbound,  unheeding  the  passage  of  time,  while  the 
cedars  trembled  about  us  as  the  tremendous  diapason  leaped 
from  peak  to  peak  and  the  valleys  flung  back  the  echoes  in 
majestic  antiphones.  There  was  the  roar  of  sliding  gravel, 
the  crash  of  rent-down  forest,  and  the  rumble  of  ice  and 
snow,  each  mingling  its  own  note,  softened  by  distance,  in 
the  supernatural  orchestra,  until  the  last  echoes  died  away 
and  there  was  a  breathless  hush. 

"  We  have  heard  great  things,"  said  Johnston;  "  what  did 
the  surveyor  say?  Not  an  ounce  of  the  ruin  is  wasted; 
the  lower  Fraser  wheat-lands  are  built  that  way.  There's 
a  theme  for  a  master  to  write  a  Benedicite.  Grinding  ice 
chanting  to  the  thunders  of  the  snow,  and  the  very  cedars 
listening  in  the  valleys.  Well,  I'll  make  him  a  free  present 
of  the  fancy;  we're  merely  gold  miners,  or  we  hope  to  be» 
Good-night,  and  remember  the  early  start  to-morrow." 

He  was  up  long  before  the  late  dawn,  and  it  was  still 
early  when  we  waded  scarcely  knee-deep  among  the  boulders 
of  a  curiously  shrunken  stream.  Smooth-ground  rocks 
cumbered  its  bed,  and  the  muddy  water  that  gurgled  among 
them  was  stained  red  instead  of  the  usual  glacial  green, 
while,  as  I  wondered  where  the  rest  had  gone,  the  prospect- 
or remarked,  "  These  blamed  rivers  are  low  in  winter,  but 
I  never  saw  one  quite  so  ashamed  of  itself  as  this.  It's  the 
snow  slide  we  heard  last  night  damming  the  valley,  and 
there'll  be  a  rush  worth  seeing  when  it  does  break  through." 

I  had  occasion  afterward  to  learn  that  he  was  right,  but 
meanwhile  we  followed  the  banks  of  the  river  up-stream, 
still  looking  for  the   gorge.     Several   times   the  prospector 


260      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

fancied  that  he  identified  a  transverse  opening,  and  then 
confessed  that  he  was  not  even  sure  of  the  river,  because, 
as  he  said,  there  were  so  everlasting  many  of  them.  Johns- 
ton grew  more  and  more  uneasy,  until,  when  I  called  a 
halt  as  the  sun  bore  south,  he  looked  at  me  appealingly, 
and  I  agreed  to  continue  until  there  was  just  time  enough 
left  to  reach  our  previous  camp  by  nightfall.  So  we  held 
on,  and  finally  he  turned  to  me. 

"  IVe  played  the  last  game  and  lost  it,"  he  said.  "  Well, 
you  kept  your  part  of  the  bargain ;  I'll  keep  mine.  It's  take 
up  the  home-trail,  boys,  we're  going  back  to  camp." 

He  said  it  lightly,  but  I  could  tell  that  he  felt  the  dis- 
appointment bitterly,  while  even  I,  who  had  expected  noth- 
ing, wheeled  the  pack-horse  around  with  an  angry  growl. 
It  was  toward  dusk  when  we  neared  the  creek  we  had 
crossed  in  the  morning,  but  it  was  no  longer  shrunken. 
Evidently  the  dam  of  debris  had  given  way,  for  it  roared 
in  full  flood  now,  and  it  was  with  anxiety  that  we  quickened 
our  pace.  The  hillsides  loomed  black  out  of  chilly  mist  that 
wrapped  the  serried  ranks  of  climbing  pines  in  their  smoky 
folds.  It  was  not  yet  dark  in  the  valley,  but  the  light  was 
dying  fast,  and  a  bitter  breeze  swept  down  a  darkening 
gorge,  bringing  with  it  the  moan  of  an  unseen  forest  until 
presently  this  was  lost  in  the  voice  of  the  frothing  torrent 
before  us.  There  was  neither  fuel  nor  shelter  on  that  side, 
and  we  determined  to  attempt  the  crossing,  for,  as  Harry 
said,  "  Hunger  alone  is  bad,  but  hunger  and  cold  together 
are  worth  an  effort  to  avoid." 

The  prospector  waded  in  foremost,  sounding  with  a  long 
fir  pole.  The  stream  swirled  in  white  wreaths  about  his 
waist,  and  Johnston  turned  to  speak  to  me,  standing  a  few 
yards  nearer  with  the  ripples  at  his  knee;  then  I  grasped 
the  pack-horse's  bridle  and  forced  it  into  the  water.  The 
beast  carried  a  heavy  load,  including  most  of  our  blankets, 


ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL  261 

and  almost  the  entire  balance  of  our  provisions.  A  rusty 
rifle  was  slung  behind  my  shoulders,  besides  tools  and 
utensils,  and  Johnston  was  similarly  caparisoned,  so  I  felt 
my  way  cautiously  as  the  ice-cold  waters  frothed  higher 
about  me.  Near  by,  the  creek  poured  into  the  main  river, 
which  swept  with  a  great  black  swirling  into  the  gloom  of 
the  forest. 

All  went  well  until  we  gained  the  center  of  the  stream, 
and  then  a  loose  stone  turned  under  the  horse's  hoof,  or  it 
sank  into  a  deeper  hollow,  for  there  was  a  plunge  and  a 
flounder,  and,  jerked  sideways  by  the  bridle,  I  went  down 
headforemost  into  the  stream.  This  was  a  common  enough 
accident,  but  the  bridle  slipped  from  my  fingers,  and  when 
some  seconds  later  I  stood  erect,  gasping,  with  the  torrent 
racing  past  me,  the  horse  was  swimming  down-stream  a 
dozen  yards  away,  while  Johnston  struggled  in  that  direc- 
tion to  intercept  it. 

"  Let  it  go !  "  I  roared.  "  Water's  deepening ;  you'll  be 
sucked  out  into  the  main  river,"  and  caught  the  answer,, 
"  All  our  provisions  there !  "  after  which  there  was  a  con- 
fused shouting,  which  ended  in  the  warning,  "  For  the  Lord's 
sake,  Johnston,  look  out  for  yourself !  " 

I  could  see  that  our  best  chance  of  rendering  assistance 
would  be  to  cross  and  try  to  overtake  them  from  the  further 
bank,  and  a  few  seconds  later  I  was  clattering  over  the 
shingle  with  the  prospector  close  behind  me.  But  we  were 
already  too  late.  When,  waist-deep,  I  floundered  down  a 
shingle  spit,  the  half-submerged  beast,  handicapped  by  its 
burden,  swept  past  out  of  reach,  and  I  caught  a  momentary 
glimpse  of  a  wet  white  face  and  a  man's  uplifted  arm  before 
a  tumbling  ridge  splashed  up  and  hid  them. 

"  Couldn't  never  overtake  them,  but  it's  running  slacker 
in  the  river,"  the  prospector  said. 

We  smashed  through  a  willow  thicket  which  covered  a 


262       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

little  promontory,  and  then,  staring  wide-eyed  under  the 
branches,  I  saw  an  indistinct  object  lurch  unevenly  into  the 
froth  of  a  rapid,  and  so  pass  the  next  instant  out  of  sight. 
Whether  it  was  man  or  horse  no  one  could  say. 

"  He's  gone,"  said  the  grizzled  prospector.  "  Many  an- 
other has  gone  the  same  way.  Find  them!  Of  course, 
we'll  search,  but  I  guess  it's  hopeless.  Don't  think  your 
partner  was  great  on  swimming,  and  he  was  loaded  heavy. 
Come  on,  daylight's  going." 

For  a  moment  I  felt  limp  and  abject,  then  in  savage 
fury  I  broke  through  barberry  branches  and  thorny  brakes, 
fell  into  the  river,  and  blundered  down  a  shoaler  portion  of 
its  channel,  until  I  brought  up  breathless  on  the  verge  of  a 
deep  boiling  pool,  while  even  as  I  stared  across  it  the  last 
of  the  day  went  out. 

"  It  sounds  hard,"  said  the  prospector,  "  but  you  can't  do 
nothin'.  No  man  could  make  his  way  through  this  bush 
in  the  dark,  and  it  wouldn't  be  any  good.  Your  partner 
never  got  so  far.  We  can  only  say  we're  sorry,  and  strike 
back  for  camp." 

He  was  right,  though  I  think  I  cursed  him  for  cowardice 
then.  We  struggled  on  through  a  horrible  chaos  of  tangled 
forest,  but  each  time  when,  peering  out  between  the  dark 
fir  branches,  I  cried  aloud,  the  blackness  returned  no  an- 
swer save  the  boom  of  angry  water.  So,  bruised,  wet,  and 
bleeding,  I  struggled  back  toward  the  fatal  creek,  and  found 
that  my  lips  would  not  frame  words  to  answer  when  Harry 
said : 

"  It  was  horrible,  Ralph.  I'd  give  all  our  hopes  and  pros- 
pects to  have  the  poor  fellow  safe  again.  But  there's  no 
help  for  it,  and  somehow  I  fancy  it  was  a  release.  You 
remember  how  he  looked  when  he  said  that  this  was  his  last 
march  ?  " 

We  lighted  a  fire,  dried  our  garments  and  the  blankets 


ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL  263 

that  were  left  us,  then  Harry  flung  aside  the  battered  camp 
spider,  and  drew  out  a  flask. 

"  Ten  pounds  of  flour,  five  of  reistit  pork  —  and  that's 
what  he  gave  his  life  for.  No,  I  don't  think  I  could  eat 
anything  to-night.  Here,  empty  half  of  this,  Ralph,  you're 
shaking  all  over,"  and  Harry  lifted  his  hat  as  he  touched 
the  metal  cup  with  his  lips:  "  Good  rest  to  you,  comrade,'* 
he  said. 

I  choked  over  the  mouthful  of  spirits,  which  I  needed 
badly  enough,  and  then  sat  shivering  wide  awake  beside  the 
fire  through  the  long  bitter  night,  while  when  at  daybreak 
I  called  the  others,  they  both  rose  with  a  suspicious  readi- 
ness. For  hours  we  wandered  along  the  river  bank,  but 
found  nothing  whatever  beyond  conclusive  evidence  that 
even  the  best  swimmer  could  hardly  have  come  out  of  that 
icy  flood  alive.  Then  dejectedly  we  strapped  up  our  traps, 
and  turned  our  backs  on  the  dismal  camp.  We  halted  and 
looked  back  a  moment  on  the  crest  of  the  divide. 

"  The  beast  was  badly  played  out,"  the  guide  said,  "  the 
man  was  loaded.  Thirty  pounds  and  a  rifle  —  and  he 
couldn't  hardly  swim.  He's  gone  out  on  the  lonely  trail, 
but  whether  there's  gold  at  the  end  of  it  no  living  man  can 
say.  Maybe  you'll  find  out  some  day  when  you  follow 
him." 

Then  in  mournful  silence  we  turned  away,  and  that 
night  we  ate  our  last  mouthful  in  another  valley,  and  for- 
got the  gnawing  hunger  in  broken  sleep,  through  which  a 
wet  face  persistently  haunted  me.  When  we  arose  there 
was  not  even  a  handful  of  caked  flour  in  the  damp  bag,  and 
during  a  discussion  the  miner,  in  reply  to  Harry's  state- 
ment, said  it  did  not  follow  that  there  were  no  deer  or  bear 
in  the  country  because  we  had  not  seen  them.  Men  tramp- 
ing noisily  behind  shod  horses  do  not  generally  chance  upon 
the  shy  deer,  he  pointed  out;  while  if  two  previous  hunts 


264       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

had  proved  unsuccessful,  we  might  do  better  on  the  third. 
It  was  at  least  four  days'  march  to  the  nearest  dwelling,  and 
I  agreed  with  his  observation  that  no  starving  men  could 
march  for  four  days  through  such  a  country.  So,  to  en- 
hance our  chances,  the  company  divided,  agreeing  to  meet 
again,  if  they  killed  nothing,  at  the  same  spot  by  sunset. 

It  was  with  a  heavy  heart  and  my  belt  drawn  tighter 
that  I  left  the  others,  carrying  a  loaded  rifle,  which  seemed 
to  increase  considerably  in  weight.  Now,  even  well  north 
in  British  Columbia,  especially  if  near  the  Pacific,  there  are 
favored  valleys  sunk  deep  among  the  ranges  and  open  to 
the  west  which  escape  the  harder  frost,  and  as  this  was  one 
of  them  I  determined  to  search  the  half-frozen  muskegs  for 
bear.  The  savage  grizzly  lives  high  under  the  ragged 
peaks,  the  even  fiercer  cinnamon  haunts  the  thinly-covered 
slopes  below,  but  I  had  no  desire  to  encounter  either  of 
them,  for  the  flesh  of  the  little  vegetable-feeding  black  bear 
is  by  no  means  unpalatable,  especially  to  starving  men. 

So  I  prowled  from  swamp  to  swamp,  seeing  nothing  but 
the  sickly  trunks  which  grew  up  out  of  thinly  frozen  slime, 
while  no  sound  made  by  either  bird  or  beast  broke  the  im- 
pressive silence  of  the  primeval  solitude.  At  last,  when 
the  day  was  nearly  spent,  I  crawled  toward  a  larger  mus- 
keg, which  spread  out  from  a  running  creek,  and  knelt  in 
congealed  mire  behind  a  blighted  spruce,  listening  intently, 
for  a  sound  I  recognized  set  my  heart  beating.  All  around, 
dwindling  in  gradations  as  the  soil  grew  wetter,  the  firs 
gave  place  to  willows,  and  there  was  mud  and  ice  cake 
under  them.  Peering  hard  into  the  deepening  shadows,  I 
saw  what  I  had  expected  —  a  patch  of  shaggy  fur.  This 
was  one  of  the  small  black  bears,  and  the  creature  was 
grubbing  like  a  hog  among  the  decaying  weed  for  the  roots 
of  the  wild  cabbage,  which  flourishes  in  such  places.  Some 
of  these  bears  hibernate   in  winter,   I   believe,   but  by  no 


ON  THE  GOLD  TRAIL  265 

means  all,  for  the  bush  settlers  usually  hunt  them  then  for 
their  fur.     No  summer  peltry  is  worth  much. 

I  was  only  a  fair  shot  with  the  rifle,  and  the  strip  of 
black,  half  seen  between  the  branches,  would  prove  a  dif- 
ficult mark  in  an  uncertain  light,  while  it  was  probable  that 
three  lives  might  answer  for  the  bear's  escape.  So  I  waited, 
aching  in  every  joint,  while  my  hands  grew  stiff er  on  the 
rifle  stock,  but  still  the  beast  refrained  from  making  a 
target  of  itself,  until,  knowing  that  it  would  soon  be  too 
dark  to  shoot,  I  had  to  force  the  crisis.  A  strange  sound 
might  lead  the  quarry  'to  show  himself  an  instant  before 
taking  flight,  and  so  I  moistened  my  blue  lips  and  whistled 
shrilly.  A  plump  rotund  body  rose  from  the  weeds,  sixty 
yards  away,  I  guessed,  and  I  pitched  up  the  rifle,  dropping 
my  left  elbow  well  over  my  knee  and  steadying  the  cold 
barrel  against  the  tree. 

Sixty  yards  and  a  two-foot  target,  what  need  for  such 
precautions?  one  hears  the  marksmen  say,  and  when  stalk- 
ing sand-hill  cranes  in  warm  sunlight  now  I  can  agree  with 
them.  But  I  was  nearly  famished,  stiff  with  cramp  and 
cold,  and  shooting  then  for  bare  existence.  With  a  half- 
articulate  prayer  I  increased  the  pressure  on  the  trigger  as 
the  fore-bead  trembled  —  it  would  tremble  —  across  the  fur. 
The  bear  was  clearly  suspicious.  He  would  be  off  the 
next  moment,  the  trigger  was  yielding,  and  with  a  sudden 
stiffening  of  every  muscle  I  added  the  final  pressure  as  the 
notch  in  the  rear-sight  and  the  center  of  the  body  came 
for  a  moment  in  line.  I  heard  no  explosion  —  one  rarely 
does  when  watching  the  result  intently  —  but  there  was  a 
red  flash  from  the  tilting  muzzle,  and  the  heel-plate  jarred 
my  shoulder.  Then  I  growled  with  satisfaction  as  almost 
simultaneously  I  heard  a  sound  there  was  no  mistaking,  the 
crunch  of  a  forty-four  bullet  smashing  through  flesh  and 
bone.     The  bear  was  down,   struggling  among  the   weed, 


266      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

and  plunging  straight  through  the  muskeg  I  fell  upon  it, 
and,  after  burning  another  cartridge  with  the  muzzle  against 
the  flesh,  I  drove  the  long  knife  in  to  the  hilt. 

Next  I  rose  stiffly  upright,  ensanguined,  with  wild  gasps 
of  thankfulness,  and  sent  a  hoarse  cry  ringing  across  the 
woods,  after  which  I  sat  down  on  the  fur  and  stabbed  the 
lifeless  brute  twice  again,  for  I  was  filled  with  a  childish  fear 
that  even  now  it  might  escape  me.  This  was  needless,  and 
even  barbarous,  but  to  one  in  my  position  it  was  natural. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY 

A  SHOUT  came  down  from  the  range  side,  and  when 
the  others  joined  me  even  Harry  surveyed  the  bear  with 
wolfish  eyes,  while  it  did  not  take  long  to  perform  what  the 
French-Canadians  call  the  eventrer,  and,  smeared  red  all 
over,  we  bore  the  dismembered  carcass  into  camp.  We 
feasted  like  wild  beasts  —  we  wrere  frankly  animal  then  — 
and  it  was  not  until  hunger  was  satisfied  that  we  remembered 
the  empty  place.  Then  we  drew  closer  together,  and,  though 
it  was  mere  fancy,  the  gloom  of  the  forest  seemed  to  thicken 
round  the  circle  of  fading  firelight,  as  Harry  said: 

"  He  was  the  life  of  the  party  at  either  work  or  feast. 
Ralph,  we  shall  miss  him  sorely;  a  sound  sleep  to  him!  " 

No  one  spoke  again,  and,  drawing  the  two  remaining 
blankets  across  the  three,  we  sank  into  our  couches  of 
spruce  twigs  and  slept  soundly.  It  was  after  midnight,  by 
the  altitude  of  the  moon,  when  the  prospector  roused  me, 
and  I  sat  up  with  chattering  teeth,  for  there  was  a  bitter 
wind. 

"  Don't  you  hear  it  ?  —  there  —  again !  "  he  said. 

I  was  not  quite  awake,  and,  when  a  tramp  of  footsteps 
came  faintly  out  of  the  obscurity,  at  first  I  felt  only  elation. 
Johnston  had  escaped  and  followed  our  trail,  I  thought. 
This  was  short-lived,  and  was  replaced  by  superstitious 
dread,  for  there  could  be  no  human  being  within  leagues  of 
us,  and  yet  the  ghostly  footsteps  drew  steadily  nearer  and 
nearer.     Even  the  miner,  who  had  spent  half  his  life  in  the 

267 


268       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ranges  seemed  uneasy,  for  he  stretched  out  his  hand  for  the 
rifle,  and  Harry  started  upright  as  a  challenge  rang  through 
the  stillness.  # 

"  Stop  there,  and  call  out  what  you  want,  whoever  you 
are!" 

There  was  no  answer  from  the  silence,  only  the  foot- 
steps still  approaching,  and  Harry  looked  at  me  curiously 
when  the  miner  called  again. 

"  Keep  back  —  tell  us  who  you  are  before  we  fire  on 
you!" 

Then  a  hoarse  voice  reached  us :  "  If  you  have  nothing 
to  eat  it  won't  matter  much  if  you  do.  We  are  three 
starving  men,  and  past  doing  anybody  an  injury." 

"  Come  forward,"  I  shouted.  "  We  have  food  here,"  and 
three  figures  staggered  into  the  glow  of  the  fire.  The 
foremost  seemed  familiar,  and  I  could  not  repress  a  start 
when  the  red  blaze  leaped  up,  for  Geoffrey  Ormond  stood 
before  us  leaning  heavily  on  a  rifle.  His  face  was  thin  and 
furrowed,  his  coat  badly  rent,  and  his  very  attitude  spoke 
of  utter  weariness. 

"  Lorimer,  by  all  that's  wonderful !  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  You  were  not  exactly  friendly  the  last  time  we  met.  In 
fact,  I  almost  fancied  you  wished  to  ride  over  me.  I  hope 
we're  not  intruding,  but  we're  most  confoundedly  hungry." 

The  last  words  were  unnecessary,  for  the  way  the  men 
behind  him  glanced  at  the  meat  showed  it  plainly  enough. 

"  I  must  apologize  for  a  fit  of  temper,"  I  said,  holding 
out  my  hand,  "  but  it  happened  near  the  settlements,  and  old 
quarrels  don't  hold  up  here.  We  have  food  to  give  you, 
and  we  hope  that  you  will  consider  yourselves  welcome." 

They  certainly  did  so,  for  more  bear  steaks  were  laid 
on  the  embers,  and  while  one  of  the  newcomers,  stripping  a 
cartridge,  rubbed  powder  grains  into  the  flesh  another  pro- 
duced a  few  of  the  fern  roots  which  in  times  of  scarcity 


THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY  269 

the  Siwash  Indians  eat.  When  at  last  they  had  finished, 
one  of  the  party,  pushing  back  his  fur  cap,  turned  to  me. 

"  You  ought  to  remember  me,  Lorimer,"  he  said. 

"  Of  course  I  do,  Calvert.  Didn't  you  hire  my  horses, 
once?"  I  replied.  "You  must  take  my  meaning  the  right 
way  when  I  say  that  I'm  pleased  to  see  you  here.  But 
what  brought  you  and  the  others  into  this  desolation?  " 

Calvert's  eyes  twinkled.  "  The  same  thing  that  brought 
you  —  stories  of  unlimited  treasure.  When  I  heard  them  I 
left  my  few  machines  —  they  were  not  working  well,  and 
humbly  craved  the  autocratic  president  of  the  Day  Spring 
mine's  permission  to  join  this  expedition.  The  Day  Spring 
was  not  prospering  in  such  a  degree  that  we  could  afford 
to  ignore  the  rumors  —  eh,  Geoffrey?" 

"  You  may  put  it  so,"  said  Ormond  quietly.  "  But 
Colonel  Carrington  is  your  acknowledged  chief,  and  you 
owe  him  due  respect." 

"  Well,"  the  narrator  continued,  "  we  came  up,  six  san- 
guine men  and  one  despondent  mule,  which  showed  its  wis- 
dom by  breaking  its  tether  and  deserting.  I  gather  that  these 
expeditions  are  generally  rough  on  cattle.  Then  we  lost  our 
way,  and,  provisions  growing  scanty,  divided  the  party,  three 
returning  and  three  holding  on,  Geoffrey  and  I,  unfortu- 
nately, among  the  latter.  We  got  lost  worse  than  ever  on  the 
return  journey,  and  were  steering  south,  we  hoped,  at  the 
last  gasp,  so  to  speak,  when  we  found  you.  That's  about  all, 
but,  if  it's  a  fair  question,  did  you  find  any  sign  of  gold  ?  " 

"  Not  a  sign,"  I  answered. 

"  Yours  was  a  triple  combination,"  Ormond  said. 
"  Where's  your  cheerful  partner ;  I  liked  him.  Ah,  ex- 
cuse an  unfortunate  question  —  a  difference  of  opinion  most 
probably?" 

"  No,"  I  answered.  "  We  never  had  a  difference  of 
opinion  since  poor  Johnston  joined  us.     He  lies  somewhere 


270       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

in  a  nameless  river  —  we  lost  him  crossing  a  treacherous 
ford  two  days  ago." 

Ormond  looked  startled  for  a  moment,  then  he  bent  his 
head  and  answered  with  a  kindly  glance  toward  me:  "He 
was  a  good  comrade,  and  you  have  my  deep  sympathy.  May 
I  say  that  sometimes  I  fancied  your  friend  could  tell  a  pain- 
ful story,  and  in  endeavoring  to  forget  it  made  the  most  of 
the  present." 

"  You  are  probably  right,"  said  Harry.  "  He  hinted  as 
much,  but  no  one  will  learn  that  story  now.  He  took  his 
secret  with  him,  and  the  river  guards  it." 

"  It's  an  old  tale,"  said  Ormond  gravely.  "  The  way 
into  this  country  was  opened  by  the  nameless  unfortunate. 
After  all,  where  could  a  man  rest  better  than  among  the 
ranges  through  which  he  had  found  a  pathway.  Are  not 
these  dark  pines  grander  than  any  monument?  Poor  John- 
ston! Lorimer,  I  wonder,  if  we  knew  all,  whether  we 
should  pity  him  ?  " 

His  face  grew  somber  as  he  spoke,  but  it  was  Ormond 
who  presently  dissipated  the  gloom  by  a  humorous  narrative 
of  the  doings  of  the  vanished  mule,  after  which  we  went  to 
sleep  again.  A  pale  blink  of  sunshine  shone  down  when 
we  started  south  the  next  day,  for  we  had  agreed  to  march 
in  company,  but  the  weary  leagues  lengthened  indefinitely, 
and  there  was  still  no  sign  of  the  eagerly  expected  trail 
leading  to  Macdonald's  Crossing,  until,  when  we  almost  de- 
spaired of  finding  it,  one  of  the  party  assured  us  that  we 
should  reach  it  before  the  second  nightfall.  During  the  morn- 
ing Ormond  and  I  lagged  behind  the  others  as  we  wound 
with  much  precaution  along  the  sides  of  an  almost  precipitous 
descent.  He  limped  from  some  small  injury  to  his  foot, 
made  wTorse  by  exposure,  and  as  it  happened  a  passing 
mention  of  Colonel  Carrington  stirred  up  the  old  bitterness. 

Why  should   this  man   enjoy  so  much   while   I  had  so 


THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY  271 

little,  I  thought.  I  was  handicapped  by  poverty,  and  his 
wealth  lay  like  an  impassable  barrier  between  Grace  and 
myself.  Then,  though  I  tried  hard,  I  could  not  drive  out 
the  reflection  that  all  wTould  have  been  different  if  he  had  not 
found  our  camp.  Our  partner  had  gone  down  in  the  black 
pool;  we  could  not  save  him,  but  chance  had  made  it  easy 
to  succor  the  one  man  who  could  bring  me  sorrow  in  his 
necessity.  Then,  as  I  struggled  to  shake  off  the  feeling  of 
sullen  resentment,  Ormond  perhaps  noticed  my  preoccupa- 
tion, for  he  remarked: 

"  In  other  circumstances  how  we  should  enjoy  this 
prospect,  Lorimer !  " 

We  halted  a  few  minutes,  and  I  agreed  with  him  as  I 
glanced  about  me.  A  great  slope  of  snow  ran  upward 
above  us,  and  as  far  as  eye  could  see  there  was  a  white 
confusion  of  glittering  ranges.  The  footprints  of  our 
comrades  wound  in  zig-zags  among  deep  drifts  and  outcrops 
of  ice-touched  rock  across  the  foreground,  and  perhaps 
twenty  feet  below  the  ledge  on  which  we  stood  a  smooth 
slide  of  frozen  snow  dropped  steeply  toward  the  edge  of  a 
precipice,  through  a  gully  in  which  we  could  see  the  tops 
of  the  climbing  pines  far  beneath.  A  few  small  clumps  of 
bushes  and  spruce  rose  out  of  this  snow. 

"  It's  an  awkward  place  for  a  lame  man,  but  if  we  wait 
much  longer  we  will  lose  the  others,"  said  Ormond,  point- 
ing to  the  distant  figures  struggling  across  the  dazzling 
incline. 

He  moved  a  few  steps,  then  there  was  a  stumble  and  a 
sudden  cry.  I  saw  him  for  a  moment  slipping  down  the 
slanted  surface  of  the  rock,  and  when  I  reached  the  edge 
he  hung  apparently  with  one  foot  on  a  slippery  stone,  and 
his  left  hand  clawing  wildly  at  the  snow,  which  yielded  under 
it.  I  think  his  other  fingers  were  in  a  crevice.  The  fall 
might  not  be  dangerous  in  itself,  but  it  seemed  impossible 


272       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

that  anybody  launched  upon  that  declivity  could  escape  a 
glissade  over  the  precipice.  This  struck  me  in  an  instant 
and,  grasping  a  shrub  which  grew  in  a  crevice,  I  held  out 
my  right  hand  toward  him. 

"  Get  hold,  lift  3'ourself  with  your  foot,  and  111  drag  you 
up !  "  I  said. 

He  made  a  desperate  effort,  for  I  could  see  the  veins 
swell  on  his  forehead,  but  it  was  the  injured  foot  which 
had  found  hold,  and  when  his  chest  was  level  with  the  edge, 
still  clawing  at  the  treacherous  covering,  he  commenced  to 
slip  back  again. 

"Can't  do  it.  Let  go,  before  I  pull  you  over  too!"  he 
gasped. 

One  reads  that  in  cases  of  imminent  peril  men's 
memories  have  been  quickened  and  past  events  rise  up 
before  them,  but  nothing  of  this  kind  happened  to  me,  for 
as  far  as  recollection  serves  I  was  conscious  only  that  I  could 
not  recover  my  own  balance  now,  and  that  there  were  great 
beads  of  sweat  on  the  forehead  of  the  man  struggling  for 
his  life  below  who  stared  up  with  starting  eyes,  while  my 
right  arm  seemed  slowly  being  drawn  out  of  its  socket.  So 
I  fought  for  breath,  and  held  on,  while  I  fancy  Ormond 
choked  out  again :  "  You  fool,  let  go !  "  and  then,  with  slow 
rending,  the  roots  of  the  shrub  gave  way,  and  we  plunged 
downward  together. 

Ormond  was  undermost,  and  he  must  have  struck  an 
uncovered  rock  heavily,  for  I  heard  a  thudding  shock,  and 
the  next  moment,  driving  my  heels  into  the  snow,  I  swept 
down  the  incline  at  a  speed  which  threatened  to  drive  the 
little  sense  left  in  me  completely  away.  Nevertheless,  I 
noticed  that  Ormond  rushed  downward  head  foremost 
several  yards  away,  and  there  was  a  loud  crash  when  he 
charged  through  a  juniper  thicket,  and  then  struck  violently 
against  a  spruce,  which  brought  him  up  almost  on  the  verge 


THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY  276 

of  the  gully.  By  good  luck  I  slid  into  a  clump  of  stout 
saplings,  and  presently  rose  to  my  knees,  blinking  about  me 
in  a  dazed  fashion.  One  thing,  however,  was  evident  — 
any  rash  move  would  launch  me  over  the  sheer  fall. 
Ormond  lay  still  against  the  slender  trunk,  and  several  min- 
utes passed  before  he  raised  his  head.  There  was  a  red  stain 
on  the  snow  beside  him,  and  his  voice  was  uneven. 

"  You  are  not  a  judicious  man,  Lorimer,,,  he  said.  "  I'm 
infinitely  obliged  to  you,  but  no  one  would  have  blamed 
you  for  letting  go." 

"  Well  let  that  pass,"  I  answered  shortly.  "  I'm  glad  I 
did  not.  We  are  in  an  awkward  place,  and  the  first  thing  is 
to  decide  how  to  get  out  of  it." 

There  was  a  wry  smile  on  Ormond's  face  when  he 
spoke  again :  "  It's  certainly  a  perilous  position,  and  a  some- 
what unusual  one.  You  and  I  —  of  all  men  —  to  be  hung 
up  here  together  on  the  brink  of  eternity.  Still  I,  at  least, 
am  doubtful  whether  Til  ever  get  out  again;  there's  some- 
thing badly  broken  inside  of  me." 

The  hot  blood  surged  to  my  forehead,  for  I  understood 
what  he  meant,  but  that  was  a  side  issue,  and,  answering 
nothing,  I  scanned  the  slope  for  some  way  of  ascent.  There 
was  none,  and  nothing  without  wings  could  have  gained  the 
valley.     Ormond,  too,  realized  this. 

"  All  we  can  do,  Lorimer,"  he  said,  "  is  to  wait  until  our 
friends  assist  us.  In  the  meantime  you  might  fire  your  rifle 
to  suggest  that  they  hurry!  " 

He  spoke  very  thickly.  I  scraped  the  snow  from  the 
slung  weapon's  muzzle,  for  this  will  sometimes  burst  a  gun, 
and  then  a  red  flash  answered  the  ringing  report  from  the 
opposite  slope,  and  presently  a  cry  reached  us  from  the  fore- 
most of  the  clambering  figures.  "  Hold  on !  We're  coming 
to  get  you  out !  "  it  said. 

Now   most   luckily  we   had    brought   several   stout   hide 


274       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ropes  with  us,  which  was  a  rather  unusual  procedure. 
The  British  Columbian  mountaineer  will  carry  a  flour  bag 
over  moraine  and  glacier  trusting  only  to  the  creeper  spikes 
on  his  heels,  and  in  objecting  to  the  extra  weight  our  guide 
said  derisively :  "  We've  quite  enough  to  pack  already,  and 
I  guess  you  don't  want  to  dress  us  up  with  a  green  veil,  a 
'  crooked  club  wTith  a  spike  in  the  end  of  it,  and  fathoms  of 
spun  hemp,  like  them  tourist  fellows  bring  out  to  sit  in  the 
woods  with." 

Nevertheless,  I  insisted,  and  now  we  were  thankful  for 
the  coupled  lariats.  They  could  not  lower  them  directly 
toward  me  because  of  a  tree,  and  when  the  end  lay  resting 
on  the  snow  several  yards  away  I  braced  myself  to  attempt 
the  risky  traverse.  The  slope  was  pitched  as  steeply  as  the 
average  roof,  and  there  was  ice  beneath  the  frost-dried 
powder  that  slid  along  it.  Leaving  the  rifle  behind,  I  drove 
the  long  blade  of  my  knife  deep  down  for  a  hand-hold  be- 
fore the  first  move. 

"  Lie  flat  and  wriggle !  "  called  a  man  above.  "  Jam  the 
steel  into  the  hard  cake  beneath !  "  and  with  the  cold  sweat 
oozing  from  my  hair  I  proceeded  to  obey  him.  How  long 
I  took  to  cover  the  distance  wre  could  not  afterward  agree, 
but  once  I  lay  prone  for  minutes  together,  with  both  arms 
buried  in  the  treacherous  snow,  which  was  slipping  under 
me,  and  the  end  of  the  lariat  a  foot  or  two  away.  Then 
with  a  snake-like  wriggle  I  grasped  it,  and  there  was  a  cry 
of  relief  from  the  watchers.  I  got  a  bight  around  Ormond's 
shoulders,  and  after  some  difficulty  fastened  it.  One  can- 
not use  ordinary  knots  on  hide.  Ready  hands  gathered  in 
the  slack,  and  my  rival  was  drawn  up  swiftly,  while  they 
guided  him  diagonally  around  instead  of  under  the  jutting 
shelf  from  which  we  had  fallen. 

Then  the  end  came  down  again,  and  with  it  fast  about 
my  shoulders  I  went  back  for  the  rifle,  after  which  they 


THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY  275 

hauled  me  up,  filling  my  neck  and  both  sleeves  with  snow 
in  the  process.  Though  Harry  laughed,  his  voice  trembled 
when,  as  I  gained  the  platform,  he  exclaimed : 

"  Well  done,  partner!  You  fought  gamely,  and  if 
you  had  eaten  another  bear  we  should  never  have  landed 
you." 

Harry,  I  think,  had  been  at  one  time  a  trout  fisher. 
Ormond,  however,  after  making  an  effort  to  rise,  lay  limply 
in  the  snow. 

"  I'm  very  sorry  to  trouble  you,  but  I  can't  get  up,"  he 
said.  "  Something  gone  wrong  internally  and  my  leg's 
broken.     I'm  much  afraid  you  will  have  to  carry  me." 

It  was  an  arduous  undertaking,  and  even  before  starting 
it  was  necessary  to  lash  his  limbs  together  with  a  rifle 
between  them  by  way  of  splint.  After  this  we  spent  two 
hours  traversing  the  next  mile  or  so,  and  my  shoulders 
ached  when  with  intense  satisfaction  we  found  firm  earth 
beneath  our  feet  once  more.  Ormond  was  distinctly 
heavy,  and  that  region  is  sufficiently  difficult  to  traverse 
even  by  a  wholly  unburdened  man,  while,  hampered  by  his 
weight,  the  two  days'  march  to  the  crossing  might  be 
lengthened  indefinitely.  Still,  we  could  not  leave  him 
there,  and,  framing  two  spruce  poles  with  branches  between 
them  into  a  litter,  we  struggled  forward  under  our  burden. 
We  were  five  partly  fed  and  worn-out  men  in  all,  and  we 
carried  the  litter  alternately  by  twos  and  fours,  finding  the 
task  a  trying  one  either  way.  Probably  we  could  never 
have  accomplished  it  except  under  pressure  of  necessity. 

The  bronze  already  had  faded  in  the  sufferer's  face,  his 
cheeks  had  fallen  in,  but  though  the  jolting  must  have 
caused  him  severe  pain  at  times  he  rarely  complained. 
Instead,  he  would  smile  at  us  encouragingly,  or  make  some 
pitiful  attempt  at  a  jest,  and  I  think  it  was  chiefly  to  please 
us  that  he  choked  down  a  few  spoonfuls  of  the  very  un- 


276       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

tempting  stew  we  forced  on  him.  Once,  too,  when  I  tried  to 
feed  him  his  eyes  twinkled,  though  his  lips  were  blanched,  as 
he  said: 

"  We  are  playing  out  our  parts  in  a  most  unconventional 
fashion.  Ralph  Lorimer,  are  you  sure  that  it  is  not  poison 
you  are  giving  me  ?  " 

Perhaps  he  would  have  said  more  if  I  had  followed  his 
lead,  but  I  did  not  do  so,  and  these  two  veiled  references 
were  all  that  passed  between  us  on  the  subject  that  most 
concerned  us  until  almost  the  end.  It  was  late  one  night, 
but  there  was  a  beaten  trail  beneath  us  and  we  knew  we 
were  running  a  race  for  Ormond's  life,  when  at  last  a 
glimmer  of  light  appeared  among  the  trunks  and  the  sound 
of  hurrying  water  increased  in  volume.  We  quickened  our 
dragging  pace,  and  when  Harry  pounded  violently  on  the 
door  of  a  log  building  an  old  man  with  bent  shoulders  and 
long  white  hair  stood  before  us. 

"  Yell  come  in,  and  very  welcome/'  he  said.  "  I  heard 
ye  coming  down  the  trail.  Four  men  with  a  load  between 
them  —  where  are  the  lave  o'  ye?  The  best  that's  in 
Hector's  shanty  is  waiting  ye." 

There  was  an  air  of  dignity  about  him  which  struck 
me,  and  I  had  heard  prospectors  and  surveyors  talk  about 
mad  Hector  of  the  crossing.  When  we  carried  our  burden 
in  he  knelt  and  laid  back  Ormond's  under  jacket  of  deerskin 
before  he  saw  to  the  broken  leg  with  a  dexterity  that  evinced 
a  knowledge  of  elementary  surgery. 

"  Is  this  going  to  be  the  end  of  me  ?  "  asked  Ormond 
languidly,  and  the  old  man,  turning  his  head,  glanced 
toward  me  in  warning  as  he  answered :  "  That's  as  the  Lord 
wills.  Yere  friends  will  need  to  be  careful.  The  leg's  no 
set  that  ill,  but  I'm  suspecting  trouble  inside  o'  ye.  With 
good  guidance  ye  should  get  over  it.  Lay  him  gently 
yonder  while  I  slip  on  a  better  lashing." 


THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY  277 

He  crammed  the  stove  with  fuel  until  the  hot  pipe 
trembled  to  the  draught,  and  soon  set  a  bounteous  meal 
before  us  —  fresh  venison  and  smoked  salmon  with  new  bread 
and  dried  berries  —  while  he  also  prepared  a  broth  for  Or- 
mond,  who  drank  a  little  greedily,  and  then  lapsed  into 
slumber.  I  was  for  pushing  on  after  a  brief  rest,  but  Hector 
thought  differently. 

"  Neither  man  nor  horse  has  been  drowned  while  I  kept 
this  crossing,,,  he  said,  "  and  by  the  help  o'  Providence  no 
man  will.  Can  ye  no  hear  the  river  roaring  to  the  boulders, 
and  would  ye  have  her  wash  ye  out  mangled  out  o'  human 
image  into  the  bottomless  pool?  Maybe  yell  no  like 
the  passage  in  the  light  o'  dawn,  but  ye  cannot  cross  till 
then." 

He  spoke  with  a  tone  of  certainty,  and  knowing  that 
only  those  who  live  by  them  can  predict  the  eccentric  rise 
and  fall  of  these  torrents  I  was  glad  to  defer  to  his  judg- 
ment. It  was  only  for  Ormond's  sake  that  we  desired  to 
press  on  at  all,  and  Harry  observed  truthfully,  "  It  wouldn't 
do  the  poor  fellow  any  good  to  drown  him.5, 

It  was  late,  but  we  still  loitered  about  the  stove,  and 
when  once  the  old  man  stood  in  the  open  doorway  glancing 
toward  the  foaming  rush  of  the  river  that  I  could  see  beyond 
him,  as  though  to  gauge  its  force  by  the  roar  which  now 
filled  the  room,  one  of  the  party  remarked :  "  Old  Hector's  a 
curious  critter,  with  a  kink  inside  his  brain,  but  there's 
many  a  free  miner  owes  a  big  debt  to  him.  He  knows 
each  trick  of  the  river;  the  Siwash  say  it  talks  to  him, 
and  when  he  says  clear  passage  I  guess  you  can  cross.  I've 
heard  that  the  Roads  and  Trails  Authorities  allow  him  a  few 
dollars  subsidy,  but  he  doesn't  stay  here  for  that.  He  was 
mixed  up  in  some  ugly  doings  in  the  gold  days,  and  reckons 
he's  squaring  it  by  keeping  the  crossing.  And  I  guess 
he   comes   pretty   near   doing   it,    too,    for    there's    a   good 


*78       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

many  lives  to  his  credit,  if  that  counts  for  anything,  and 
I'm  figuring  it  does." 

He  ceased  as  our  host  returned  and  said,  "  She's  falling 
half-a-foot  an  hour,  an'  for  the  sake  of  the  sick  man  I'll 
see  ye  over  with  the  break  of  dawn.  Got  hurt  on  the  gold 
trail  —  ye  need  not  tell  me.  There's  no  a  sand  bar  or  gully 
from  Fraser  till  Oominica  Hector  did  not  travel  thirty  years 
ago.  They  came  up  in  their  thousands  then,  an'  only  the 
wolf  an'  eagle  ken  where  the  maist  o'  them  lie." 

"  That's  true,"  said  the  grizzled  prospector.  "  I  was  in 
the  last  of  it  when  Caribou  was  played  out  and  we  struck 
for  the  Peace  country  and  Cassiar,"  and  Hector  stared  past 
him  through  the  smoke  wreaths  with  vacant  eyes  that 
seemed  to  look  far  back  into  bygone  years. 

"  There  was  red  gold  to  be  had  for  the  seeking  then," 
he  said.  "  We  won  it  lightly,  an'  we  spent  it  ill.  Ay 
wine  an'  cards,  an'  riot'  when  they  brought  the  painted 
women  in,  until  the  innocent  blood  was  spilt,  and  Hector 
Came  down  from  Quesnelle  with  the  widow's  black  curse 
upon  him  —  but  it  was  his  partner  shot  Cassell  in  the 
back.  The  widow's  curse;  and  that's  maybe  why  Mary 
MacdonaP  lies  long  years  her  lone  among  the  hills  o' 
Argyle." 

"  Tell  us  how  you  cleaned  out  the  Hydraulic  Company, 
Hector,"  said  the  prospector,  and  added  aside  to  me,  "  I'm 
switching  him  off  onto  another  track.  He's  not  cheerful 
on  this  one,  and  it's  hardly  fair  play  to  listen  while  he  gives 
himself  away." 

Then  we  heard  true  stories  of  the  old  mad  days,  tales 
of  grim  burlesque  and  sordid  tragedy,  which  have  never 
been  written,  and  would  not  be  credited  if  they  were, 
though  their  faint  echoes  may  still  be  heard  between  the 
Willow  River  and  Ashcroft  on  the  Thompson.  Long  after- 
ward when  Harry  and  I  discussed  that  experience  he  said, 


THE  BRINK  OF  ETERNITY  279 

"Say  little  about  Hector;  one  must  know  these  mountains 
well  to  understand  him.  I  never  saw  any  one  quite  like  him. 
He  spoke  like  a  Hebrew  prophet,  and  we  obeyed  him  as 
though  he  were  an  emperor."  4 

I  slept  in  a  splendid  dry  blanket  under  a  bearskin  which 
Hector  spread  over  me,  and  a  dim  light  was  in  the  eastern 
sky  when  the  old  man  roused  me,  saying,  "If  ye  are  stout 
at  the  paddle  we'll  try  the  river  noo." 

The  others  were  growling  drowsily  as  they  rose  to 
their  feet,  and  I  saw  that  Ormond's  gaze  was  fixed  on 
me  meaningly. 

"  You'll  take  me  over  now  won't  you,  Lorimer?  "  he  said 
as  I  bent  over  him.  "  I  feel  that  each  hour  is  precious,  and 
I'm  longing  above  all  things  to  see  Miss  Carrington  before 
I  go.     It  is  for  her  own  sake  partly." 

I  had  forgotten  our  rivalry,  and  my  voice  was  thick  as 
I  promised,  while  Ormond  sighed  before  he  answered 
faintly : 

"  It  might  have  been  different,  Lorimer.  It's  a  pity  we 
didn't  know  each  other  better  three  years  ago." 


CHAPTER  XXV 
ormond's  last  journey 

4CT  AUNCH  her  down  handy.  Bring  the  sick  man 
along!"  called  some  one  outside;  and  when  we 
carried  Ormond  out  I  saw  the  others  running  a  big  Siwash 
canoe  down  over  the  shingle,  and  the  dark  pines  rising 
spires  of  solid  blackness  against  the  coming  day.  It  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  white  mist  hung  about  them,  while  huge 
masses  of  rock  rose  through  the  smoke  of  the  river,  whose 
clamor  filled  all  the  hollow.  None  of  us  quite  liked  the  task 
before  us,  for  man's  vigor  is  never  at  its  highest  in  the 
chilly  dawn;  but  I  remembered  Ormond's  eagerness  to  con- 
tinue the  journey.  So  we  laid  him  gently  on  our  blankets 
in  the  waist,  and  thrust  out  the  long  and  beautifully  modeled 
craft,  which  was  of  the  type  that  the  coastwise  Siwash  use 
when  hunting  the  fur  seals.  I  knelt  grasping  the  forward 
paddle  until  Hector,  who  held  the  steering  blade,  said :  "  If 
ye'll  follow  my  bidding  I'll  land  ye  safe  across.  Together! 
Lift  her  all!" 

The  light  shell  surged  forward  to  the  sturdy  stroke,  for 
several  of  those  behind  me  were  masters  of  the  paddle,  and 
as  I  plied  my  blade  I  felt  with  a  thrill  that  it  was  good  to 
fight  the  might  of  the  river  in  such  a  company.  Snowy 
wreaths  boiled  high  about  the  shearing  prow,  I  could  hear 
the  others  catch  their  breath  with  a  hiss,  and  once  more  after 
a  heavy  thud  the  cedar  floor  seemed  to  raise  itself  beneath  me 
and  leap  to  the  impulse,  while,  with  a  hardening  of  every 
muscle,  I  swept  the  leaf-shaped  blade  outward  ready  for  the 

280 


ORMOND'S  LAST  JOURNEY  281 

dip.  There  was  spray  in  my  eyes,  and  bearing  down  on  us 
through  it  a  boulder,  with  dim  trunks  opening  and  closing 
beyond;  then  I  saw  only  the  bird's  head  on  the  prow,  for 
some  one  cried  behind  that  my  stroke  was  slow,  and  by  the 
rush  of  foam  and  the  shock  of  thudding  blow  I  knew  that 
the  others'  blades  were  whirling  like  flails. 

The  rock  loomed  nearer,  the  river  piled  against  its 
battered  feet,  and  I  hazarded  a  glance  over  my  shoulder, 
which  showed  me  a  row  of  set  faces  turned  toward  the 
bow,  with  stout  arms  and  the  flats  of  redwood  blades  swung 
out  before  them,  until  with  a  swing  of  shoulders  the  heads 
went  down,  and  a  white  wave  burst  apart  before  the  stem. 
Looking  forward  the  next  instant  I  saw  that  the  rock  lay 
right  athwart  our  way;  but  the  others  had  blind  confidence 
in  our  pilot. 

"  Back  ye  on  the  up-stream ;  drive  her  yere  hardest, 
down !  "  he  called. 

Then  the  current  strove  to  wrest  my  dipped  blade 
away,  as  with  the  paddles  on  one  side  held  fast  by  sinewy 
wrists  the  craft  turned  as  on  a  pivot,  and  lurching  on  the 
backwash  whirled  past  the  stone,  after  which  the  cry  was: 
"  Drive  her  all !  "  and  we  shot  away  on  the  eddy  with  our 
faces  turned  slantwise  up-stream.  This  was  well,  for  close 
below  the  whole  weight  of  the  current  hurled  itself  in  fury 
upon  a  ragged  barrier,  and  I  understood  that  Hector  had 
calculated  our  impetus  to  a  quarter  fathom.  There  was  a 
fight  to  reach  the  landing,  and  with  any  other  than  the 
crew  behind  me  the  river  might  have  won ;  but  four  of  the 
lean  hard  men  had  fought  many  such  battles,  and  though 
the  trunks  raced  up-stream  we  closed  with  the  shore  until 
the  shock  of  the  bows  on  shingle  flung  me  backward. 

Our  next  proceeding  was  to  portage  a  smaller  craft 
several  hundred  yards  up  the  river,  for  Hector  to  make  the 
return  passage,  and  then,  as  we  thanked  him  for  the  food 


282      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

and  the  small  comforts  for  Ormond  that  he  forced  on  us, 
the  old  man  said : 

"  Ye're  very  welcome,  an'  I'm  not  wanting  yere  dollars. 
Will  I  take  payment  for  a  bit  of  dried  venison,  when  the 
Almighty  freely  gives  me  all  the  good  fish  in  the  river  an' 
the  deer  in  the  woods  ?  Go,  an'  haste  ye ;  yon  man  is  need- 
ing the  aid  of  science." 

Then  he  turned  away,  and  watched  us  from  the  shingle 
as  we  took  up  Ormond's  litter,  and  the  last  that  we  ever 
saw  of  him  was  a  tall  lonely  figure  which  vanished  into  the 
gray  smoke  of  the  river  as  we  plodded  up  the  climbing  trail. 
Still,  even  now,  that  lonely  figure  rises  up  before  me. 

"  Old  Hector  tells  strange  things  when  the  fit  takes  him. 
Used  to  speak  our  language  —  it's  curious,  he  talks  like  some 
of  them  emigrants  from  the  old  country  now,"  a  man  beside 
me  said.  "  But  you  can  stake  your  last  dollar  he  isn't  mad. 
No,  sir,  it's  quaint  he  is.  I've  had  my  voyageur  training  in 
the  frozen  country  under  the  H.  B.  C,  but  when  it's  dead 
knowledge  of  a  rapid  he'll  beat  me  easy.  Some  day  the 
river  will  get  him,  and  then  we'll  miss  him  bad." 

In  due  time  we  reached  a  shingle-roofed  settlement, 
where  a  man  who  had  some  local  reputation  for  skill  in 
healing  horses  examined  our  companion. 

"  He's  pretty  well  played  out,"  he  said.  "  Ship  him 
straight  down  to  Vancouver  in  a  sleeping-car,  and  don't  you 
let  any  of  them  bush-doctors  get  their  claws  on  him.  I 
know  when  a  job's  too  big  for  me,  and  this  is  one.  You'll 
fetch  up  in  time  for  the  Pacific  mail  if  you  start  now  in  a 
wagon." 

"  What  did  that  fellow  say?  "  asked  Ormond,.  and  when 
I  judiciously  modified  the  horse-doctor's  verdict  he  smiled 
understandingly. 

"  That's  a  wise  man,"  he  said,  "  and  I  can  guess  what 
he  told  you.     Lorimer,  I  know  I'm  sinking  fast,  and  if  you 


ORMOND'S  LAST  JOURNEY  283 

leave  me  here  I'll  die  before  you  can  send  a  doctor  up. 
Probably  I'll  also  die  in  Vancouver,  but  every  man  is  justi- 
fied in  making  a  fight  for  his  life  —  and  there's  another 
reason  why  I  should  get  there  first." 

We  hired  a  light  wagon,  for  a  passable  trail  led  to  the 
railroad,  and  perhaps  because  time  was  scanty,  or  the  jolting 
of  the  wagon  was  more  trying  than  the  swing  of  the  litter, 
our  patient  grew  worse,  and  I  was  dhankful  at  last  to  see 
him  safe  in  a  berth  of  the  sleeper  on  the  Pacific  express. 
I  had  grown  almost  as  impatient  as  Ormond,  and  I  recollect 
nothing  of  the  journey  except  that  when  the  lights  of  Port 
Moody  glittered  across  the  forest-shrouded  inlet  he  said: 
"  Lorimer,  IVe  a  stupid  prejudice  against  a  hospital.  Please 
take  me  to  Wilson's  instead.  He  lives  alone,  and  I  did  him 
several  services  —  you  can  tell  him  that  it  will  not  be  for 
long." 

So  when  we  reached  the  station  Harry  volunteered  to 
find  the  best  doctor  in  the  timber  city  —  for  hewn  stone  had 
only  begun  to  replace  sawn  lumber  then  —  and  arrange  for 
transit  to  Wilson's  house ;  because  he  said  that  it  was  my  par- 
ticular duty  to  tell  Colonel  Carrington  and  Grace.  An 
hour  passed  before  I  traced  them,  and  then  I  found  them  at 
a  function  given  to  celebrate  the  starting  of  some  new  public 
enterprise,  and  it  was  with  hesitation  that,  followed  by  Cal- 
vert, I  entered  the  vestibule  of  the  brilliantly  lighted  hall. 
We  gave  a  message  to  a  bland  Chinese  attendant,  and  waited 
until  returning  he  beckoned  us  through  a  crimson  curtain, 
which  swung  to  behind,  and  I  found  myself  standing  be- 
wildered under  a  blaze  of  light  in  a  ball-room. 

There  was  a  crash  of  music,  a  swishing  of  colored  dresses, 
and  then,  as  the  orchestra  ceased,  we  stood  before  the  as- 
tonished assembly  just  as  we  had  left  the  bush,  in  tattered  fur 
wrappings  and  torn  deerskin,  with  the  stains  of  leagues  of 
travel  on  our  leggings,  while  I  recollect  that  a  creeper-spike 


284       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

on  my  heel  made  holes  in  the  polished  marquetry.  All  eyes 
were  turned  toward  us. 

"  This  is  considerably  more  than  I  bargained  for," 
growled  Calvert.  "  I  feel  guiltily  like  the  man  who  brought 
the  news  to  Edinburgh  after  Flodden.  What  did  you  play 
this  confounded  trick  upon  us  for,  John  ?  " 

"  John  savvy  Miss  Callington,"  said  the  unblushing  Mon- 
golian ;  and  Calvert  added  savagely : 

"  Then  hide  us  somewhere,  and  tell  her,  before  I  twist 
your  heathen  neck  for  you." 

I  noticed  Martin  Lorimer  moving  toward  me;  but  before 
he  reached  us  Grace  came  up,  a  dazzling  vision  of  beauty. 

"  I  am  thankful  to  see  you  back  safe,  Ralph,  and  hear  you 
have  news  for  me,"  she  said.  "  Lawrence  Calvert,  the  same 
applies  to  you." 

It  was  bravely  done,  for  few  women  would  have  cared 
to  link  themselves  publicly  with  such  a  gaunt  and  tattered 
scarecrow  as  I  undoubtedly  was  then;  but  Grace  was  born 
with  high  courage  and  a  manner  which  made  all  she  did 
appear  right.  When  Calvert  said  that  he  would  send  for 
Colonel  Carrington,  she  calmly  placed  her  hand  within  my 
arm,  and  added: 

"  We  will  find  quietness  yonder  in  the  empty  supper- 
room.     You  have  made  me  anxious." 

Then,  doubtless  to  the  wonder  of  many  citizens'  daughters 
and  wives,  we  passed  together,  a  sufficiently  striking  couple, 
across  the  hall;  and  when  at  length  we  escaped  the  curious 
eyes,  Grace  held  me  back  at  arm's  length. 

II  You  look  thin  and  haggard,  Ralph,"  she  said.  "  Some- 
thing has  happened.  Now  begin,  and  tell  me  clearly  all 
about  it." 

I  did  not  know  how  to  commence,  and  I  proceeded  awk- 
wardly to  temporize,  though  I  really  meant  what  I  said. 

II  It  was  the  fault  of  that  stupid  Chinaman,  Grace,  and  I 


ORMOND'S  LAST  JOURNEY  285 

am  sorry.  It  was  so  courageous  of  you  to  come  to  me  be- 
fore them  all." 

She  looked  at  me  with  a  curious  mingling  of  pride  and 
humor.  "  Am  I,  then,  so  little  as  to  fear  a  few  inquisitive 
women?  And  do  you  fancy  that  I  loved  you  for  your  pre- 
possessing exterior  ?  Now,  sir,  before  you  offend  me  further, 
at  once  begin." 

I  placed  a  lounge  for  her,  and  leaned  over  it  as  I  said, 
"  It  is  about  Geoffrey.  We  went  up  prospecting,  and  found 
his  party  in  difficulties.     Geoffrey  is  — " 

"  Not  dead !  "  she  said  with  a  shudder,  clutching  the 
arms  of  the  chair.  And  I  laid  my  hand  soothingly  on  one 
of  hers  as  I  answered : 

"  No,  but  he  is  hurt,  and  he  is  longing  to  see  you.  He  is 
in  Vancouver  now.     Listen,  I  will  tell  you  about  it." 

"  Poor  Geoffrey!  "  she  said  when  I  had  finished,  while  a 
tear  glistened  on  her  long  lashes.  "  Geoffrey,  my  old  play- 
mate! I  can  hardly  believe  it.  Ralph,  there  are  very  few 
like  him.  He  is  in  all  things  a  true-hearted  gentleman. 
He  stood  between  us;  but  how  many  others  would  have 
played  their  part  so  chivalrously  when  he  had  the  power 
through  my  father  to  force  me  to  his  will.  And  —  may  I 
be  forgiven  for  it  —  more  than  once  I  had  hard  thoughts  of 
him.     And  now  he  is  dying!     Take  me  at  once  to  see  him." 

Shortly  afterward  a  voice  reached  us  through  an  open 
door.  It  was  Calvert's,  saying,  "  I  want  you  to  understand, 
sir,  that  if  we  had  not  struck  Lorimer's  camp  we  should 
have  starved  to  death.  I  saw  the  accident  from  a  distance, 
and  again  it's  my  firm  opinion  that  he  ran  the  utmost  risk  to 
extricate  Ormond.  If  the  latter  were  my  own  brother  I 
should  consider  myself  indebted  to  him  for  life." 

"lam  glad  to  hear  it,"  answered  an  unseen  person,  whom 
it  was  easy  to  recognize  as  the  footsteps  drew  nearer.  "  Still, 
one  must  take  precautions;  and,  as  I  observed,  in  the  cir- 


286      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

cumstances  some  people  might  have  suspicions.  I  may  say- 
that,  indirectly,  Lorimer  knew  that  he  would  profit  by  my 
partner's  death." 

I  started,  and  would  have  risen,  burning  with  wrath, 
but  Grace's  clasp  held  me  fast.  The  next  moment  her 
father  and  Calvert  entered  the  room.  The  former  glanced 
toward  us  in  cold  surprise;  and  then,  in  a  hard,  ringing 
tone,  Grace  said: 

"  There  is  still,  I  hope,  a  little  charity  left  in  the  world. 
The  reference  is  hardly  becoming.  There  are  others  beside 
Mr.  Lorimer  who  would  benefit,  directly,  by  Geoffrey 
Ormond's  death." 

I  would  have  spoken,  but  she  prevented  me;  and  her 
father  stood  for  a  moment  speechless  with  astonishment. 
Grace  was  a  dutiful  daughter,  and,  though  he  must  have 
tried  her  patience  hardly  now  and  then,  I  fancied  that  this 
was  the  first  time  she  had  ever  openly  defied  him;  while  I 
saw  that  the  shaft  had  gone  home.  Colonel  Carrington 
wTas  not,  however,  to  be  shaken  into  any  exhibition  of  feeling, 
for  he  turned  to  me  with  his  usual  chilliness : 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  your  lucky  escape,"  he  said. 
"  Calvert  has  told  me.  If  you  are  quite  ready,  Grace,  and 
will  get  on  your  wrappings,  we  will  drive  over  and  visit 
the  sick  man  immediately." 

So,  seeing  that  my  presence  was  by  no  means  desired,  I 
saluted  the  Colonel  with  stiffness,  and  hurried  on  foot  in 
the  direction  of  Wilson's  house.  He  was  a  bachelor,  it 
appeared,  who  dealt  in  mining  gear,  and  during  their  busi- 
ness intercourse  had  made  friends  with  Ormond.  Now 
he  was  absent  inland,  but  his  housekeeper  had  placed  the 
pretty  wooden  dwelling  at  our  patient's  disposal.  What 
passed  between  the  latter  and  Colonel  Carrington  I  do  not 
know,  but  when  Grace  met  me  on  the  stairway  as  I  entered 
she  said: 


ORMOND'S  LAST  JOURNEY  287 

"  He  told  us  how  much  you  had  done  for  him,  and  made 
my  father  believe  it  even  against  his  will." 

Presently  the  surgeon  came  down. 

"  I  can  do  little  for  him,"  he  said.  "  There  are  internal 
injuries  —  I  needn't  describe  them  —  which  practically  leave 
no  hope  of  recovery.  You  can't  get  a  trained  woman  nurse 
for  love  or  money,  and  it  rests  between  yourselves  and  a 
Chinaman.  I  fancy  that  he  would  prefer  you.  I  don't 
know  how  he  stood  the  journey." 

"  We  did  our  best,  and  he  was  very  patient,"  I  said.  And 
the  surgeon  answered : 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  did,  and  it  speaks  well  for  your 
comrade's  fortitude.  You  need  not  blame  yourselves,  how- 
ever, for  from  the  first  he  could  not  have  got  better." 

"  I'll  take  first  watch,"  said  Harry,  when,  after  giving  us 
full  instructions,  the  surgeon  departed.  "  Miss  Carrington 
has  already  insisted  on  helping.  I've  sampled  Wilson's 
wardrobe,  but  his  things  would  split  up  if  you  tried  to  get 
into  them.  Go  out  and  borrow  or  buy  some  anywhere. 
You  can't  expect  to  meet  Miss  Carrington  in  that  most 
fantastic  disarray.  I've  taken  quarters  at  the  Burrard  House, 
and  it's  not  your  turn  until  to-morrow.  The  Colonel  has 
graciously  signified  his  approval  of  our  arrangements." 

When  my  watch  commenced  the  next  day  Ormond  seemed 
pleased  to  see  me,  and  Grace,  who  was  spreading  southern 
flowers  in  the  room,  withdrew.  Then  Calvert  and  Colonel 
Carrington  came  in  with  a  lawyer,  and  I  raised  Ormond  so 
that  he  could  see  them.  Outside,  and  not  far  below  the 
window,  bright  sunlight  beat  down  upon  the  sparkling  inlet, 
and  across  it  the  mountains  rose  in  a  giant  wall.  Ormond 
glanced  at  them  and  sighed.  Then  he  said  with  slow  dis- 
tinctness : 

"  Put  it  down  in  your  own  fashion.  This  is  the  gist 
of  it:     I,  Geoffrey  Ormond,  being  now  at  least  perfectly 


288       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

sound  in  mind,  bequeath  my  gray  horse  at  Day  Spring,  all 
my  guns  and  rifles,  with  my  silver  harness  and  two  pedigree 
hunters  at  Carrington,  to  Ralph  Lorimer,  in  token  of  friend- 
ship and  gratitude  for  a  courageous  attempt  at  my  rescue 
when  by  accident  I  fell  from  a  rock.  I  especially  desire 
this  inserted,  Mr.  Solicitor.  You  quite  understand  what  I 
am  saying,  Colonel  Carrington?  " 

There  was  a  significant  smile  in  his  eyes  as  they  met 
mine,  and  something  rose  in  my  throat  threatening  to  choke 
me  when  he  added  aside :  "  You  will  accept  these  things 
as  a  memento  of  our  last  march,  I  hope?  With  this  ex- 
ception, I  bequeath  my  property  in  stocks  and  lands  of  all 
and  every  kind  —  I  do  not  enumerate,  or  appoint  other 
executor  —  to  Colonel  Carrington  of  Carrington  Manor,  the 
balance  remaining  after  his  death  to  revert  to  his  daughter 
Grace.  Set  it  all  out  in  due  form,  and  give  me  the  paper 
to  sign." 

Remembering  what  Grace  once  told  me  I  fancied  that  an 
expression  of  unutterable  relief  smoothed  out  the  wrinkles 
of  anxiety  on  the  legatee's  brow,  but  I  may  have  been  mis- 
taken in  this.  There  was  a  curious  look  in  Ormond's  face, 
and  I  understood  the  depth  of  his  loyalty  to  Grace.  It 
struck  me  with  a  shock  that  Ormond,  in  spite  of  his  ap- 
parent carelessness,  realized  how  far  matters  had  drifted, 
and  hoped  to  spare  her  the  painful  discovery.  Then  he  lay 
back  struggling  for  breath,  when,  after  the  will  was  signed, 
at  a  signal  from  the  doctor  the  others  withdrew.  Perhaps  an 
hour  passed  while  I  kept  watch  alone  before  he  spoke  again, 
saying  very  faintly: 

"  It's  strange,  Lorimer,  that  circumstances  should  con- 
stitute you  my  protector.  It's  not  the  usual  ending  of  a 
very  old  story.  A  rich  man  and  a  poor  man  loved  the  same 
woman,  and  —  this  is  where  the  strangeness  happens,  perhaps 
because  of  all  women  she  was  most  worthy  te  be  loved  —  she 


ORMOND'S  LAST  JOURNEY  289 

looked  kindly  upon  the  poorer  man.  The  other  had  all 
that  fortune  could  give  him  save  what  he  most  desired,  and 
being  older  he  waited  patiently,  trusting  her  heart  would 
turn  toward  him,  and  when  at  last  he  learned  the  truth  he 
had  not  courage  to  give  her  up,  but  waited  still,  hoping,  he 
hardly  knew  for  what,  against  hope.  Then  circumstances 
held  them  closer  together  in  a  bond  that  even  for  her  sake 
he  dare  not  break,  until  at  last  the  knot  was  cut.  Lorimer, 
we  fought  it  out  fairly,  you  and  I.  Now  you  have  won, 
and  I  am  dying.     I  only  ask  you  to  be  good  to  her." 

I  turned  my  head  aside,  for  I  could  say  nothing  appro- 
priate, and  he  added: 

"  I  should  like  you  to  keep  those  rifles,  and  when  some  day 
Grace  receives  the  reversion  she  will  find  it  but  little.  We 
made  some  heavy  losses  in  joint  ventures,  her  father  and  I  — 
you  will  tell  her  to  remember  that.  I  think  now  all  is  set- 
tled.    God  bless  her!" 

He  slept  or  lay  quite  still  for  some  time,  and  once  more, 
knowing  what  I  knew,  I  wondered  at  the  greatness  of  his 
nature,  for  it  was  evident  that,  realizing  that  his  love  was 
hopeless,  he  had  stood  by  her  father  only  to  serve  her.  Then 
he  said  feebly: 

"  Lift  me  a  little,  Lorimer,  so  that  I  can  see  the  moon- 
rise  on  the  snow.  Before  another  nightfall  I  shall  have  fol- 
lowed your  partner  on  the  unknown  trail." 

I  raised  him  on  the  pillows,  and  then  sat  by  the  window, 
from  which  —  because  the  lamp  that  tired  his  eyes  had  been 
turned  very  low  —  I  could  see  the  shimmer  of  stars  on  the 
dark  breast  of  the  inlet,  which  wTas  wrapped  in  shadow,  and 
a  broad  band  of  silver  radiance  grow  wider  across  the  heights 
of  snow,  until  Grace  came  in  softly  with  more  blossoms 
from  sunny  Mexico. 

Ormond  saw  her,  and  he  had  probably  forgotten  me, 
for  there  was  a  great  longing  in  his  voice  as  he  said  huskily: 


290       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Will  you  kiss  me,  Grace,  for  the  first  and  last  time  since 
we  were  innocent  children  ?  " 

She  bent  over  him  a  compassionate  figure,  etherealized 
by  the  pale  light  that  touched  her  through  the  eastern  win- 
dow, and  I  went  out  and  waited  on  the  stairway  until,  after 
the  surgeon  went  in,  she  passed  me,  sobbing,  and  stilled  an 
expression  of  sympathy  with  a  lifted  hand.  That  was  the 
last  I  saw  of  Geoffrey  Ormond  in  this  life,  for  when  next  I 
looked  at  him  he  lay  very  white  and  still  with  the  seal  of 
death  upon  him,  and  I  knew  that  a  very  clean  and  chivalrous 
soul  had  gone  to  its  resting-place.  I  touched  his  cold  fore- 
head reverently,  and  then  turned  away,  mourning  him, 
heaven  knows,  sincerely,  and  feeling  thankful  that  when 
tempted  sorely  I  had  kept  my  promise  that  day  in  the  bush 
as  I  remembered  his  words,  "  We  have  fought  it  out  fairly." 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE  TRIAL 

QEOFFREY  ORMOND  was  duly  laid  to  rest  in 
Canadian  soil,  and  it  was  long  before  the  disastrous 
expedition  was  mentioned  among  us.  After  all,  its  painful 
record  was  not  an  unusual  one,  for  even  to-day,  when 
wagon  roads  have  been  driven  into  the  mountain-walled 
forests  where  only  the  bear  and  wood-deer  roamed  before, 
all  who  go  out  on  the  gold  trail  do  not  come  home.  I  was 
anxious  to  return  to  Fairmead,  so  that  as  soon  as  decency 
permitted  I  called  on  Colonel  Carrington,  and  though  I 
longed  to  challenge  what  he  had  said  to  Calvert,  I  contented 
myself  with  formally  renewing  my  previous  request. 

He  listened  with  cold  patience,  but  I  did  not  like  his 
very  quietness,  and,  though  I  believe  that  he  sincerely  re- 
gretted Ormond's  death,  I  fancied  that  he  was  looking  more 
hopeful. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  you  are  again  asking  too  much,  and 
your  request  is  characterized  rather  by  assurance  than  by 
common  sense, "  he  said.  "  I  need  not  recapitulate  my  former 
reasons,  but,  in  addition  to  them,  I  wonder  whether  you 
have  read  this.  As  you  do  not  allude  to  it,  you  probably 
have  not." 

He  produced  a  clipping  from  a  Winnipeg  paper,  and  be- 
cause Western  journalism  is  conducted  in  a  refreshingly 
frank  style  of  its  own,  I  read  with  growing  resentment  the 
following  paragraph,  which,  the  cutting  being  still  in  my 
possession,  is  quoted  verbatim.     It  commenced  with  the  head- 

291 


292       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ing,  "  The  prosecutor  skipped  by  the  light  of  the  moon," 
and  continued:  "  In  connection  with  the  recent  arrest  of 
three  cattle  thieves  we  have  on  good  authority  a  romantic 
story.  The  case  is  meanwhile  hanging  fire  and  won't  go  oil 
because  of  the  mysterious  absence  of  the  prosecutor,  one 
Lorimer  of  Fairmead,  who  has  vanished  from  off  the  prairie, 
and  will  probably  not  appear  again.  Circumstances  point 
to  his  being  one  of  the  frolicsome  Lotharios  who  occasionally 
find  the  old  country  sultry,  and  he  apparently  developed  a 
tenderness  for  the  wife  of  one  of  the  prisoners.  As  a  result, 
there  were  complications,  and  she  left  her  home.  The  hus- 
band went  to  seek  her  on  the  wide  prairie,  and  some  bad  man, 
after  trying  to  shoot  him,  threw  him  into  a  sloo.  We  don't 
know  whether  this  was  the  prosecutor,  but  should  think  so. 
Then  the  husband  swore  vengeance,  and  it  is  supposed 
posted  the  cattle  thieves  so  that  they  could  clean  out  the 
wicked  betrayer's  stock.  Now  the  lawyers  are  awaiting 
their  witness,  sorrowing,  and  can't  find  him,  while  the  boys 
are  saying  that  if  he  doesn't  reappear  the  accused  will  get 
off."     ' 

"  That  is  hardly  a  desirable  certificate  of  character  for  my 
daughter's  suitor,"  said  Colonel  Carrington. 

"  Do  you  believe  this  infamous  libel?"  I  asked  fiercely. 
And  his  thin  lips  curled  as  he  answered : 

"  Frankly,  I  do  not  —  that  is  to  say,  not  the  whole  of  it. 
But  there  are  others  who  will;  and  I  can  hardly  congrat- 
ulate you  on  your  generally  accepted  reputation.  That 
alone  would  be  a  sufficient  barrier  to  an  alliance  with  my 
family." 

"  But  you  almost  made  a  conditional  promise,"  I  said, 
mastering  my  wrath.     And  the  Colonel  answered  lightly: 

"  I  merely  said  that  we  would  discuss  the  affair  again ;  and 
we  have  done  so.  Several  things  have  transpired  in  the 
meantime,  unfortunately  for  you." 


THE  TRIAL  293 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  but  open  defiance,"  I  said.  "  I 
made  you  a  certain  promise  in  return,  and  I  kept  it.  But 
I  warn  you  now  that  I  will  marry  Miss  Carrington  in  spite 
of  you.  As  to  that  clipping,  the  prosecutor  will  be  found, 
and  if  there  is  a  law  in  Canada  a  full  apology  will  be  printed 
in  the  journal.     I  have  nothing  more  to  say." 

"  You  have  said  sufficient,  and  I  think  you  are  foolish. 
Any  legal  action  will  only  make  a  hole  in  your  scanty  ex- 
chequer. I  wish  you  good  morning,"  and  Colonel  Carring- 
ton held  the  door  wide  open,  while,  boiling  over  with  fury,  I 
took  myself  away. 

I  have  often  since  then  pondered  over  that  interview, 
and  could  only  guess  at  the  reason  for  the  Colonel's  evident 
change  of  front.  I  do  not  think  it  was  due  to  the  para- 
graph; but  if  he  had  some  fresh  scheme  in  contemplation  we 
never  learned  it,  and  Colonel  Carrington  is  past  all  ex- 
planations now. 

When  I  had  partly  recovered  I  showed  Harry  the  paper, 
and  he  frowned  as  he  said :  "I  always  anticipated  something 
like  this;  but  of  course  the  present  is  not  the  time  to  tell 
you  so.  It  rose  out  of  the  cattle  deal;  and  you  will  take 
whatever  steps  you  think  best  at  our  joint  expense.  In  any 
case,  we  have  only  the  one  purse  between  us.  The  sooner 
you  go  back  the  better." 

It  was  good  advice,  and  I  proceeded  to  act  on  it  by  tele- 
graphing up  the  line  for  a  messenger  to  ride  to  Harry's  camp 
and  send  down  any  letters  that  might  be  waiting,  after  which 
I  sought  an  interview  with  Grace.  She  seemed  filled  with 
a  wholly  unusual  bitterness  against  her  father,  but  made  me 
promise  with  some  reluctance  to  wait  a  few  months  longer 
before  deciding  on  anything  definite. 

Harry  returned  forthwith  to  his  post,  but  I  waited  until 
the  mail  brought  me  several  letters,  reforwarded  from  Fair- 
mead.     One  was  a  request  to  call  on  the  police  authorities, 


294       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

on  a  date  already  passed,  in  connection  with  the  cattle  thieves' 
trial,  and  there  were  two  from  the  Winnipeg  solicitor,  in  the 
latter  of  which  he  said:  "I  cannot  understand  your  reti- 
cence, and  must  state  that  your  mysterious  absence  tends  to 
confirm  unpleasant  rumors  about  your  character.  It  may 
also  involve  you  in  legal  difficulties,  and  I  trust  you  will  at 
once  communicate  with  me." 

I  ran  to  the  telegraph  office,  and,  after  sending  a  message, 
"  Expect  me  by  first  express,"  I  found  Martin  Lorimer,  to 
whom  I  had  given  an  account  of  my  interview  with  the 
Colonel,  waiting  in  my  quarters.  He,  too,  possessed  a  copy 
of  the  wretched  paper,  and,  flinging  it  down  before  me,  said, 
"  Hast  seen  this,  lad?  A  lie,  you  needn't  tell  me  —  it's  a 
black  lie.  But  there's  folks  that  will  believe  it,  for  the  same 
story  once  deceived  me.  You'll  go  straight  back  and  sue 
them.  I'm  coming  too.  We'll  make  them  retract  it  or 
break  them,  if  there's  justice  in  the  land.  Alice  has  gone 
south  to  California  with  a  big  railroad  man's  wife,  and  I'm 
longing  for  something  to  do.  There's  another  matter. 
Ralph,  I've  seen  the  Colonel." 

"  Seen  Colonel  Carrington  ?  "  I  said  with  dismay.  And 
Martin  Lorimer  answered  dryly: 

"  Ay,  I've  seen  him,  and  had  a  plain  talk  with  him.  Nay, 
I'm  not  going  to  tell  thee  now  what  I  said ;  but  it  bit,  and 
he  didn't  like  it.  Ralph,  lad," —  and  he  nodded  toward  me 
with  a  chuckle  — "  his  daughter's  worth  the  winning.  My 
own  girl  says  so ;  and  thou  shalt  have  her." 

Martin  Lorimer  was  hard  to  turn  aside  from  any  object 
on  which  he  had  set  his  mind  —  but  so,  as  everybody  knew, 
was  Colonel  Carrington  —  and  I  fear  that  I  abused  him  in- 
wardly for  a  meddling  fool,  and  reflected  on  the  necessity 
for  deliverance  from  the  blunders  of  well-meaning  friends. 
The  harm  was  done,  however;  and  it  was  useless  to  attempt 
to  draw  particulars  as  to  his  intentions  from  my  uncle,  so  I 


THE  TRIAL  295 

tried  to  forget  the  matter.  All  he  would  say  was,  "  Wait 
and  thee  will  see,"  or,  again,  with  a  wise  shake  of  his  head 
in  the  broad  mill  parlance,  "  Thou  never  knows." 

We  boarded  the  next  train  for  Winnipeg,  and,  after  call- 
ing on  the  solicitor  and  the  police  authorities,  who  eventually 
accepted  my  explanations,  the  former  accompanied  us  to  the 
newspaper  offices.  The  chief  of  the  staff  seemed  surprised 
when  the  solicitor  introduced  me. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Ralph  Lorimer  to  whom  you  referred  to 
in  a  recently  published  paragraph,"  he  said.  "  The  other 
gentleman  is  his  uncle,  a  British  capitalist;  and  after  he  has 
given  his  version  of  the  affair  I  have  something  to  say.  Will 
you  state  the  main  facts  briefly,  Mr.  Lorimer?" 

I  did  so,  and  the  newspaper  man  —  who,  I  think,  was  an 
American  by  birth  —  made  notes. 

Then,  before  the  solicitor  could  intervene,  Martin 
Lorimer,  drawing  down  his  bushy  eyebrows,  said,  in  the 
unaccented  English  he  used  when  in  a  deliberately  danger- 
ous mood,  "  You  have  given  out  a  false  impression  of  an 
honest  man's  character.  Now  you're  going  to  publish  a  true 
one,  with  a  full  apology,  or  we  intend  to  make  you  suffer. 
There  is  law  in  Canada,  I  suppose;  and  if  it  costs  me  suffi- 
cient to  buy  up  three  papers,  we'll  carry  the  case  on  until  we 
get  our  damages  or  smash  you.  Understand,  I'm  for  liberty 
of  the  press,  and  in  my  young  days  I  helped  to  fight  for  it; 
but  this  is  libel ;  and  I  think  you  know  my  friend  yonder." 

"  I  guess  I  do,"  said  the  other.  "  One  of  the  smartest 
lawyers  in  the  West.  Oh,  yes,  I  know  him!  See  here, 
we're  not  great  on  libel  actions  in  this  country.  It's  mighty 
hard  to  get  damages  for  that;  and  we  like  our  news  tasty. 
No,  all  things  considered,  you  would  make  nothing  of  it  if 
you  did  sue  me.  Why," —  and  he  smiled  on  the  old  man, 
who  looked  as  if  he  were  eager  to  assault  him  — "  lots  of  the 
boys  would  take  that  kind  of  paragraph  as  a  compliment.     It 


296       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

would  tickle  their  vanity.  We  admit  the  raciness  —  we  are 
proud  of  it;  but  we  stand  for  fair  play  too.  Would  you 
mind  telling  me  what  you  expect  to  do?  " 

"  It  doesn't  appeal  to  my  client,"  said  the  solicitor.  "  He 
has,  as  you  would  put  it,  British  prejudices.  I  don't  intend 
to  display  all  our  program,  but  it  includes  a  visit  to  your 
rivals  and  the  men  who  finance  you.  Still,  though  you 
sometimes  lay  the  paint  on  too  thick,  I  have  hitherto  found 
you  well-informed  and  square ;  and  we  should  rather  you  did 
the  right  thing  of  your  own  accord." 

The  man,  I  thought,  looked  honest,  and  with  a  shrewd 
smile  he  said,  "  Now  you're  talking  the  right  talk.  This 
paper  casts  its  egis  over  the  innocent.  It's  the  friend  of  the 
oppressed,  besides  all  the  other  good  things  set  down  in  the 
New  Year's  article.  But  I  shouldn't  like  those  other  fellows 
to  get  hold  of  that  story  before  we've  done  with  it.  The 
citizens  are  interested,  and  we  haven't  your  superstitious 
fear  of  commenting  on  cases  sub  judice.  No,  sir,  we're 
afraid  of  nothing,  and  don't  let  British  capitalists  walk  over 
us  with  nails  in  their  boots.  Now  I'm  going  to  make  rep- 
aration and  tell  that  tale  in  style,  showing  up  all  your 
client's  fine  qualities.  Want  to  revise  the  item?  You 
couldn't  do  it  for  ten  thousand  dollars.  We're  'way  beyond 
dictation,  and  pride  ourselves  on  knowing  how  our  readers 
like  their  news." 

At  a  hint  from  the  solicitor  I  contented  myself  with  a 
more  definite  promise  to  do  me  justice.  Then  as  we  left 
the  office,  Martin  Lorimer  turned  to  the  editor. 

"  Keep  a  hand  on  your  imagination,"  he  said  grimly,  "  or 
3^ou'll  see  me  here  again." 

"  Always  glad  to  meet  an  interesting  Britisher,"  the  man 
of  the  pen  answered  with  cheerfulness.  "  Come  in  peace, 
and  we'll  regale  you  on  our  special  cigars ;  otherwise,  my  as- 
sistant will  stand  by  with  the  politicians'  club."  \ 


THE  TRIAL  297 

"And  that's  the  creature  who  libeled  us!"  said  Martin 
Lorimer  when  we  reached  the  street.  "  I've  a  good  mind  to 
go  back  and  show  him  whether  I'm  an  interesting  Britisher  — 
confound  him !  "  whereupon  the  lawyer  laughed  heartily. 

"  They're  not  all  like  him,"  he  said.  "  This  particular 
journal  depends  on  its  raciness,  and  he  has  to  maintain  the 
character.  After  all,  he  is  an  honest  man,  and  he'll  do  you 
justice,  though  the  item  may  contain  specimens  of  what 
passes  for  local  humor." 

This  was  apparently  the  case,  for  when  we  read  it  to- 
gether Martin  Lorimer  grew  very  red  in  the  face,  and  at 
first  I  was  divided  between  vexation  and  amusement.  It 
ran  as  follows :  "  We  have  unwittingly  cast  suspicion  on 
an  innocent  man,  and  for  once  an  unprincipled  informant  has 
fooled  us.  The  cattle-thief  prosecutor  has  appeared,  and 
will  shortly  present  himself  blushing  before  the  public  gaze. 
We  have  seen  him,  and  can  testify  that  instead  of  a  Don 
Juan  he  is  a  Joseph,  for  there  is  an  air  of  ingenuous  inno- 
cence about  him  which  makes  it  certain  that  he  would  crawl 
into  a  badger-hole  if  he  met  a  pretty  woman  on  the  prairie. 
If  further  proof  were  wanted,  he  goes  about  in  charge  of  a 
highly  respectable  British  Croesus,  one  of  the  full-crusted 
elderly  models  of  virtue  they  raise  in  Lancashire.  The  class 
is  not  obsolete.     We  have  seen  one." 

Then,  with  whimsical  directness,  the  following  lines  set 
forth  the  true  state  of  the  case,  and  I  felt  on  the  conclusion 
that  the  writer  had  not  unskillfully  reversed  his  previous  un- 
favorable version.  Martin  Lorimer,  however,  signally  failed 
to  appreciate  it,  for  the  words  obsolete  and  full-crusted  stuck 
in  his  throat,  and  I  had  some  difficulty  in  restraining  him 
from  returning  forthwith  to  the  newspaper  offices.  The 
journal  eventually  languished,  and  succumbed  after  some 
friction  with  the  authorities  when  the  editor  left  it  to  seek 
in  the  great  republic  a  wider  field  for  his  talents,  but  before 


298        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

this  happened  he  paid  us  several  friendly  visits  at  Fairmead. 

The  trial,  which  excited  public  interest  at  the  time,  took 
place  shortly  aftenvard.  It  transpired  that  there  were  other 
charges  of  fraud  against  the  pair  of  thieves,  whose  case  was 
hopeless  from  the  beginning,  but  the  prosecution  experienced 
some  difficulty  in  obtaining  evidence  to  connect  Fletcher 
definitely  with  them,  though  several  facts  suggested  that  he 
had  for  some  time  acted  as  a  tool  in  their  hands.  The  court 
was  crammed,  and  looking  down  on  the  sea  of  faces  I  could 
recognize  a  number  of  my  neighbors  from  the  Fairmead  dis- 
trict and  Carrington,  and  was  not  overjoyed  to  see  them. 
An  attempt  to  steal  a  large  draft  of  cattle  was  an  important 
event  on  the  prairie.  I  should  not  have  testified  at  all,  could 
this  have  been  avoided,  which,  however,  was  not  the  case,  and 
I  awaited  with  much  anxiety  the  cross-examination  for  the 
defense,  because  my  solicitor  had  warned  me  that  as  more 
latitude  was  generally  allowed  than  in  England  an  attempt 
would  be  made  to  arouse  popular  sympathy  on  behalf  of 
Fletcher  and  shake  my  evidence  by  casting  doubts  on  my 
character. 

"Have  you  any  animus  against  the  prisoner  Fletcher?" 
was  the  first  question. 

"  No,"  I  answered.  "  Indeed,  I  was  always  anxious  to 
befriend  him  until  he  robbed  and  slandered  me." 

"  Or  his  wife?"  added  the  inquisitor.  "I  think  you 
knew  her  in  England.  Is  it  not  true  that  you  took  her  from 
the  service  of  a  railroad  hotel  and  found  a  house  for  her  on 
the  prairie?  " 

There  was  a  murmur  in  the  court,  and  objection  was 
taken  to  this  question  by  the  prosecution,  but  I  was  directed 
to  answer  it,  so  I  said  as  coolly  as  I  could :  "  I  did  know 
her  in  England.  She  was  clerk  in  my  uncle's  mill,  where 
Thomas  Fletcher  assisted  the  cashier.  He  was  not  married 
then.     I  took  her  from  the  service  of  the  railroad  hotel." 


THE  TRIAL  299 

"  It  is  a  damaging  admission,"  said  my  persecutor,  and 
would  have  continued  before  I  could  finish  the  answer,  but 
that  there  was  a  commotion  below,  which  I  hastened  to 
profit  by,  adding,  "  But  I  brought  her  husband  to  meet  her, 
and  found  him  a  situation  in  a  creamery." 

"  It  is  true,  every  word  of  it!  "  a  shrill  voice  rose  up,  and 
the  murmuring  grew  louder  in  the  body  of  the  court,  while 
it  pleased  me  to  see  that  the  riders  of  Carrington  vied  with 
our  humbler  neighbors  in  this  sign  of  approval.  Then  some 
one  sternly  called  "Silence!"  and  the  examination  com- 
menced again. 

"  I  must  protest  against  friends  of  the  witness  coming 
here  to  create  a  disturbance,"  said  the  barrister.  "  They  are 
all  owners  of  cattle,  and  accordingly  filled  with  prejudice. 
This  is  a  court  of  justice,  and  not  a  cow-boy's  tribunal  under 
the  laws  of  Lynch." 

"  That  is  my  province,"  interposed  the  judge,  "  and  if  the 
disturbance  is  repeated  I  shall  know  how  to  deal  with  it." 

The  barrister  bowed  as  he  rearranged  his  papers,  and  I 
felt  murderously  inclined  toward  him  when,  leaning  on  the 
rail  in  an  impressive  attitude,  he  continued :  "I  must  next 
ask  the  witness  whether  Mrs.  Fletcher  did  or  did  not  visit 
him  alone  at  his  house,  and  remain  for  some  time  there? 
Also,  when  her  husband  most  naturally  came  to  inquire  for 
her,  whether  he  was  not  threatened  with  violence,  and  driven 
away  at  the  muzzle  of  a  loaded  rifle?  I  want  a  direct  an- 
swer.    Yes  or  no." 

The  prosecution  challenged  the  necessity  for  such  a  ques- 
tion, but  after  some  verbal  fencing  between  the  lawyers  and 
the  judge  it  was  allowed. 

"  In  the  first  case  I  was  not  alone,"  I  said,  looking  straight 
at  my  adversary.  "  In  the  second  I  was  absent,  and  did  not 
threaten  him." 

"  He  was  to  your  knowledge  threatened?  " 


300        LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Yes." 

"  Do  you  know  that  shortly  after  leaving  your  house 
he  was  murderously  assaulted  as  a  result  of  his  visit?" 

"  I  believe  that  some  one  flung  him  into  a  muddy  sloo, 
and  I  was  not  sorry  to  hear  it." 

"  That  is  sufficient,"  said  the  examiner,  with  a  significant 
smile  toward  the  jury.  "  He  was  threatened  with  a  loaded 
rifle  for  inquiring  as  to  his  wife's  whereabouts ;  then  murder- 
ously assaulted.  Next  you  work  up  this  charge  against  him. 
You  may  sit  down." 

I  understood  that  the  judge  made  some  comments  here, 
but  I  was  too  savage  to  hear  clearly,  and  scarcely  caught 
what  followed  next,  until  Jasper  was  placed  on  the  witness 
stand,  and  stated  that  he  had  given  no  authority  to  any  one 
except  myself  to  sell  the  cattle,  which  he  swore  to,  with 
other  details  which  were  not  particularly  interesting.  There 
was  no  doubt  that  Fletcher  was  at  least  obstinately  defended, 
for  the  lawyer  once  more  strove  skillfully  to  twist  out  an- 
swers confirming  the  theory  that  his  client  had  no  direct  con- 
nection with  the  affair,  and  sought  to  show  on  my  part  a 
deliberate  intention  to  ruin  him.  He  may  even  have  be- 
lieved the  romantic  story,  which  was  particularly  calculated 
to  appeal  to  a  Western  jury. 

Jasper's  replies  did  not,  however,  help  him  much,  for 
when,  returning  to  the  subject,  he  asked,  "  Did  you  not  on 
several  occasions  drive  the  witness  Lorimer  over  to  Fletch- 
er's dwelling  with  presents  for  his  wife?  "  Jasper  answered 
boldly,  "  I  did,  and  I  guess  Mrs.  Fletcher  would  have  gone 
hungry  if  we  hadn't.  Fletcher's  a  low-grade  wastrel,  and 
anyway  he  ate  most  of  them  presents.  Yes,  sir ;  they  were 
fowls  and  potatoes,  and  Lorimer  never  went  over  but 
Fletcher  was  there." 

There  was  a  great  laugh  from  the  riders  of  Carrington, 
and  the  defendant's  lawyer  frowned. 


THE  TRIAL  301 

"  Are  you  a  friend  of  the  witness  Lorimer  ?  " 

u  I  hope  so,"  Jasper  answered  simply.  "  If  ever  I  meet 
you  on  the  prairie  I'll  endeavor  to  convince  you." 

"  Were  you  a  friend  of  Thomas  Fletcher's?  " 

The  answer  was  emphatic.  "  No.  I  guess  the  sight  of 
the  insect  makes  me  sick." 

Again  the  lawyer  smiled  toward  the  jury,  and  the  judge, 
censuring  the  witness,  directed  him  to  refrain  from  unneces- 
sary details.     The  next  question  came: 

"  Was  it  because  you  were  a  friend  of  Lorimer's,  or  had 
such  a  bitter  dislike  to  Fletcher,  that  one  night  you  attempted 
to  murder  him?  Let  me  remind  you  that  Fletcher,  as  has 
been  admitted,  came  to  bring  back  his  wife  from  Fairmead, 
and  was  threatened  with  a  rifle  there.  Then  you  rode 
after  him,  and  overtook  him  on  the  prairie  where  it  was 
lonely." 

"It  was  for  neither  reason,"  Jasper  answered,  straighten- 
ing his  burly  form  as  he  glared  at  his  adversary.  "  A  young 
girl  bluffed  off  Fletcher  and  the  other  ruffian  there,  the 
prisoner  Gorst.  She  was  alone,  but  she  scared  the  pair  of 
them  with  an  empty  rifle.  Suppose  you  left  your  sister 
alone,  and  came  back  to  find  a  half-drunk  hobo  trying  to 
murder  her?  " 

The  lawyer,  I  fancied,  had  now  heard  rather  more  than 
he  knew  before,  and  it  struck  me  that  the  prisoner's  cunning 
had  overreached  itself  in  not  posting  him  better,  for  he 
glanced  at  his  papers  before  continuing: 

"  Did  you  make  a  violent  attack  upon  him  ?  " 

"  I  did,"  said  Jasper,  cheerfully.  "  Oh,  yes,  and  I'm 
coming  to  it  in  my  own  way.  I  rode  right  after  him,  took 
Fletcher  out  of  the  wagon,  asked  the  other  man  if  he  felt  in- 
clined to  assist  him,  and,  when  he  didn't,  laid  into  Fletcher 
with  the  whip  and  just  hove  him  into  the  sloo.  Why  did 
I  do  it?  —  it's  a  poor  conundrum.     For  the  credit  of  the 


302       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

prairie.  We've  no  room  for  woman-beaters,  cattle  thieves, 
slanderers,  and  dishonest  lawyers  down  to  our  district. 
Bring  along  more  questions  —  you  hear  me;  I've  lots  more 
to  say." 

The  judge  cut  short  his  eloquence,  but  he  had  said  enough, 
and  there  was  wild  approval  from  the  prairie  contingent,  in 
which  some  of  the  citizens  joined,  and  through  it  Jasper 
towered  before  the  assembly,  a  stalwart  figure,  shaking  a 
great  fist  and  ejaculating  something  in  the  direction  of  his 
annoyer.  The  tumult  was  quelled  with  difficulty,  and  an 
official  told  me  that  never  before  had  he  seen  so  much  ex- 
citement shown.  It  was  due,  he  added,  to  the  presence  of 
those  mad  young  riders  of  Carrington.  I  sat  down  breath- 
ing more  easily,  for  I  felt  that  as  yet  my  honor  was  clear, 
and  whether  Fletcher  escaped  or  not  was  of  minor  impor- 
tance. From  the  beginning  the  main  efforts  of  the  other 
side  had  been  directed  toward  saving  him,  while  as  the  case 
proceeded  I  listened  with  decreasing  interest,  until  at  last 
the  prosecutor  said : 

"  My  opponent  has  done  his  utmost,  even  overstepping 
limits,  to  prove  that  the  witness  Lorimer  has  ended  a  long 
course  of  injury  by  supporting  a  false  charge  against  the 
prisoner  Fletcher.  This  is  after  all  a  side  issue,  but  I  think 
the  jury  will  agree  that  he  has  furnished  most  reliable  testi- 
mony, and  that  the  prisoner  mentioned  took  an  unprincipled 
advantage  of  his  perfectly  well-intentioned  kindness." 

There  was  considerably  more  which  did  not  affect  me, 
and  another  speech,  though  I  woke  to  eager  interest  again 
when  the  judge,  in  making  his  final  comments,  said : 

"  As  regards  the  witness  Lorimer,  I  entirely  agree  with  the 
view  taken  by  the  prosecution.  He  has  evidently  suffered  by 
well-meant  efforts  to  aid  the  prisoner,  and,  though  that  is 
not  connected  with  the  case  except  in  so  far  as  it  covers  the 
reliability  of  his  testimony,  he  has  been  shown  to  be  an  in- 


THE  TRIAL  308 

dividual  of  unblemished  character.  We  can  accordingly 
accept  his  evidence." 

Again  there  was  applause,  which  the  judge  checked 
severely,  and  proceeded :  "  You  will  notice  that,  while  the 
prisoner  Fletcher's  record  does  not  seem  to  be  a  creditable 
one,  the  evidence  fails  in  some  degree  to  connect  him  with 
the  other  two  prisoners  as  an  active  participator  in  the  rob- 
bery.    I  refer  to  — "  and  so  on. 

The  jury  retired  for  a  considerable  time,  and  when  the 
foreman  reappeared  he  announced  that  they  found  two  of  the 
prisoners  guilty,  and  Thomas  Fletcher  not  guilty,  the  latter 
in  a  very  doubtful  tone.  He  also  appeared  desirous  of  ad- 
ding some  explanation,  which  was  not  permitted;  while, 
as  the  court  broke  up,  I  noticed  the  detective  watching 
Fletcher  much  as  a  cat  watches  a  momentarily  liberated 
mouse.  Then  I  was  surrounded  by  the  men  from  the 
prairie,  who  insisted  on  escorting  us  to  our  hotel,  and  when 
I  asked  for  Jasper  somebody  said  he  had  seen  him  loitering 
beside  one  of  the  court-house  doors.  We  found  him  partly 
hidden  by  a  wagon,  watching  it  intently. 

"  Are  you  getting  up  another  speech,  or  trying  to  freeze 
there?  "  one  of  the  Carrington  party  asked. 

"  No!  I  guess  I'm  laying  for  that  lawyer.  Couldn't  get 
at  him  inside  there  for  a  barrier.  Am  I  a  low-grade  per- 
jurer —  and  my  friend  what  he  was  working  round  to  show? 
If  you'll  stand  by  for  just  two  minutes  I'll  convince  the  in- 
sect —  the  blamed,  vermilion,  mosquito !  " 

"  You're  too  late,"  said  the  man  from  Carrington.  "  He 
went  out  the  other  way  some  time  ago.  Mr.  Lorimer,  one 
or  two  of  us  were  at  first  —  appearances  were  strongly 
against  you,  you  know  —  inclined  to  doubt  you,  and  we  feel 
considerably  ashamed  of  ourselves.  We  want  you  and  your 
worthy  uncle  to  join  us  at  dinner.  Got  together  the  best 
company  we  could  to  meet  you." 


304       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

It  was  honestly  said,  and  we  accepted  with  willingness, 
while  I  think  my  worthy  uncle  enjoyed  himself  even  more 
than  I  did.  He  was  a  jealous  insular  Briton,  and  the  sight 
of  those  sturdy  handsome  young  Englishmen  who  well  main- 
tained the  credit  of  the  old  land  in  the  new  delighted  him. 
The  appreciation  seemed  to  be  mutual.  He  complained  of  a 
headache  the  next  morning ;  but  that  dinner  had  conferred  on 
the  Radical  cotton-spinner  the  freedom  of  aristocratic  Car- 
rington,  and  an  indefinite  but  valuable  intimation  that  the 
colony  had  set  its  special  endorsement  upon  his  nephew. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE  ROAD  TO  DAKOTA 

A/TARTIN  LORIMER  returned  to  Vancouver  promptly, 
for  he  found  the  prairie  cold  trying,  and  by-and-by  I 
received  a  letter  from  Harry  still  reporting  profitable  work, 
in  which  he  said :  "  Your  uncle  seems  to  have  developed  a 
craze  for  real  estate.  Buying  land  on  a  rising  town  boom  is 
a  somewhat  risky  amusement,  especially  if,  as  they  express 
it  here,  the  bottom  drops  out  of  the  boom ;  but  I  suppose  he 
can  afford  it,  and  he  has  been  trailing  around  lately  with 
two  surveyors  behind  him.  Laid  hands  on  the  timber  lots 
about  the  Day  Spring,  which  is  sending  up  very  low-grade 
ore.  Perhaps  you  know,  though  he  won't  tell  any  one, 
why  he  is  doing  it." 

I  showed  the  letter  to  Aline,  and  she  looked  remarkably 
wise;  then,  putting  her  head  on  one  side,  she  nodded  twice. 

"  I've  a  great  respect  for  Uncle  Martin's  sagacity,"  she 
said.  "  He's  planning  something  for  the  benefit  of  Colonel 
Carrington,  and  I've  a  faint  inkling  of  what  it  may  be.  But 
don't  worry  me  with  questions.  He  won't  show  a  single 
person  what  he  means  to  do  until  he  is  ready." 

I  had  no  ideas  at  all  on  the  subject,  though  I  did  not  tell 
Aline  so.  For  her  age  she  was  rather  too  vain  of  her  superior 
perception,  and  it  struck  me  as  becoming  that  a  younger  sister 
should  look  up  to  her  brother.  I  was  proud  of  Aline,  but 
she  had  her  failings. 

It  was  not  long  afterward,  when  returning  from  Jasper's 
i    305 


806       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

at  night,  I  found  the  remains  of  a  meal  on  the  table,  and  my 
sister  waiting  with  news  for  me. 

"  I'm  glad  you  didn't  come  home  earlier,  Ralph,"  she 
said.  "  I  am  quite  ashamed  of  my  inconsistency.  It's  nice 
to  think  oneself  inflexible,  isn't  it?  And  then  it's  humiliat- 
ing to  resolve  on  a  certain  course  and  do  the  opposite." 

She  paused,  either  to  excite  my  curiosity  or  to  afford  an 
opportunity  for  considering  the  sentiment. 

"  Never  mind  all  that.  Come  to  the  point,  Aline,"  I 
said.  But  she  stirred  the  stove,  and  dusted  some  plates  that 
did  not  require  it,  before  she  continued : 

"  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  hate  Mrs.  Fletcher  forever, 
and,  do  you  know,  I  let  her  kiss  me  scarcely  half  an  hour 
ago." 

"  Minnie  here  again!  Oh,  confound  her!  "  I  said,  banging 
back  my  chair. 

"  It's  wicked  to  lose  your  temper,  Ralph,"  Aline  answered 
sweetly,  "  and  very  unbecoming  in  an  elder  brother.  It  isn't 
poor  Minnie's  fault  that  her  husband  is  what  you  call  a  bad 
egg,  is  it?  Yes,  she  came  here  in  a  sleigh  with  two  tired 
horses,  and  one  was  lame.  She  was  going  to  meet  her  hus- 
band somewhere.  He  has  become  a  teetotaler,  and  promises 
to  turn  out  quite  a  virtuous  character.  She  hinted  at  some- 
thing which  I  didn't  know  about  that  happened  at  the  trial  — 
it  was  too  bad  of  you  to  burn  those  papers  —  and  said  he  was 
going  to  Dakota,  across  the  border.  She  was  almost  frozen, 
had  only  fall  clothes  on,  and  she  was  very  hungry.  It 
wouldn't  have  been  right  to  let  her  face  an  all-night  drive  in 
Arctic  weather  like  that,  and  she  put  the  horses  into  the 
stable,  while  I  lent  her  all  my  wrappings,  gave  her  food  to 
take,  and  made  her  rest  and  eat.  She  said  she  felt  she  must 
call  and  tell  me  how  very  sorry  she  was.  Then  she  cried  on 
my  head,  and  I  let  her  kiss  me.  We  should  always  be  for- 
giving, Ralph,  shouldn't  we?  "  * 


THE  ROAD  TO  DAKOTA  307 

"Tom  Fletcher  reformed!"  I  said  astonished.  "  Oh, 
how  foolish  you  women  are!  Fve  only  met  one  who  is  al- 
ways sensible ;  "  and  then  an  idea  struck  me,  and  I  added 
quickly :  "  Are  you  quite  sure  Fletcher  wasn't  in  the 
sleigh?" 

"  No,  Fletcher  wasn't  there  —  at  least,  I'd  had  neuralgia, 
so  I  only  looked  out  of  the  window.  Minnie  put  up  the 
horses." 

Then  I  flung  open  a  cupboard  door,  and  what  I  saw  con- 
firmed a  growing  suspicion.  For  legal  reasons  whisky  is 
scarce  on  portions  of  the  prairie,  but  a  timely  dose  of  alcohol 
has  saved  many  a  man's  life  in  the  Canadian  frost,  and  we  al- 
ways kept  some  spirits  in  case  of  emergency. 

"  Then  Minnie  is  not  a  teetotaler,"  I  said.  "  A  bottle  of 
whisky  has  gone." 

Leaving  Aline  to  consider  this,  I  ran  to  the  stable,  and 
found  that  one  of  the  splendid  horses  poor  Ormond  had 
bequeathed  me  was  also  gone.  In  its  place  stood  a  sorry 
beast,  evidently  dead  lame,  and  it  did  not  need  the  scrap  of 
paper  pinned  to  the  manger  to  explain  the  visit. 

"I  am  running  a  heavy  risk,  and  you  won't  betray  me," 
the  pencil  scrawl  read.  "  Tetley  of  Coulee  Rouge  will  send 
back  the  horse  and  robes.  It  is  a  last  favor;  we  won't 
trouble  you  any  more. —  Minnie  Fletcher." 

I  was  troubled,  however.  We  should  need  every  avail- 
able beast  in  the  spring,  and  Tetley  was  rather  more  than 
suspected  of  being  concerned  in  smuggling  whisky  and  cer- 
tain contraband  commerce,  including  the  shipping  of  China- 
men over  the  United  States  border.  It  seemed  like  tempt- 
ing Providence  to  leave  a  horse  of  that  kind  in  his  hands, 
and  yet  Coulee  Rouge  was  twenty  long  miles  away.  I  was 
also  considerably  puzzled  as  to  why  Minnie  should  have  in- 
terfered to  save  her  husband,  for  it  was  evident  some  fresh 
charge  had  been  brought  against  him,  and  he  was  seeking 


308      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

safety  in  the  republic.  Extradition  existed,  but  except  in 
murder  cases  it  was  not  often  that  a  fugitive  who  had  once 
crossed  the  boundary  was  ever  brought  back.  It  seemed  im- 
possible that  she  had  not  read  the  reports  in  the  papers,  and 
the  charge  Fletcher  brought  against  her  was  a  hard  one  to 
forgive.  Still,  papers  were  not  plentiful  on  the  prairie,  and 
the  people  she  lived  with  might  out  of  kindness  have  con- 
cealed part  of  the  news  from  her.  However  that  might  be, 
I  determined  to  save  the  horse,  and  explained  this  to  Aline, 
with  a  brotherly  warning  not  to  allow  emotion  to  get  the 
better  of  her  judgment  in  future.  She  listened  with  a 
docility  that  promised  future  reprisals,  and  then,  agreeing 
that  it  would  be  well  to  secure  the  horse,  said  that  she  should 
not  mind  being  left  alone.  Indeed,  unless  something  very 
unexpected  happened,  she  would  be  as  safe  alone  at  Fair- 
mead  as  in  any  town. 

So  I  saddled  the  next  best  horse,  donned  my  warmest  skin 
coat,  and  started  for  a  cold  ride  across  the  prairie.  The 
snow  was  thin  and  fairly  hard  —  it  seldom  lies  deep  about 
Fairmead;  but  in  view  of  the  return  journey  I  did  not  urge 
the  horse,  and  our  sleigh  had  lost  a  runner.  So  when  per- 
haps half  the  distance  had  been  traversed  a  beat  of  hoofs 
grew  louder  behind  me,  and  four  horsemen,  riding  hard, 
came  up.  By  the  jingle  of  accouterments  I  knew  they  were 
the  wardens  of  the  prairie,  and  half  expected  what  was  to 
follow. 

"  Hold  up !  "  the  sharp  summons  came,  while  I  recognized 
my  old  acquaintance,  Sergeant  Angus,  as  the  speaker. 
"  Lorimer  o'  Fairmead  —  good  night  to  ye.  Have  ye  seen 
a  two-horse  sleigh?  WeVe  news  of  it  passing  Green  Hol- 
low, south-bound,  four  hours  ago !  " 

"  Whom  are  you  wanting?  "  I  asked. 

"  Thomas  Fletcher/'  the  sergeant  answered.  "  One  of  his 
late  partners  gave  him  away,  and  there's  a  warrant  for  him. 


THE  ROAD  TO  DAKOTA  309 

They  wired  us  on  to  watch  the  stations,  and  a  message  came 
from  Elktail  that  he'd  been  seen  heading  south  in  a  sleigh. 
He's  no  friend  o'  yours;  have  ye  met  that  sleigh,  and  where 
are  ye  riding  at  this  unholy  hour?  " 

"  No,"  I  said,  "  I  haven't  seen  the  sleigh ;  but  a  woman 
drove  up  to  Fairmead,  where  my  sister  was  alone,  and  bor- 
rowed my  best  horse.  There  are  some  business  friends  of 
yours  on  the  trail  to  Dakota,  and  I'm  going  south  in  case 
they  took  a  fancy  to  it." 

"  Ye're  wise,"  said  Sergeant  Angus.  "  A  woman,  are  ye 
sure?" 

"  My  sister  was  sure,  and  she  ought  to  know." 

"  I'm  not  quite  understanding  this,"  he  said,  "  but  mean- 
time Thomas  Fletcher  is  skipping  for  the  boundary.  Ride 
ye,  boys,  ride !  " 

I  was  thankful  for  the  diversion,  for  I  could  not  see  my 
way  clearly,  and  as  we  pressed  on  there  was  small  oppor- 
tunity for  awkward  questions.  I  wanted  the  horse  and 
meant  to  get  it,  but  that  would  have  contented  me,  and  I 
had  no  desire  to  assist  in  the  capture  of  Fletcher.  Another 
hour  passed,  and  then  far  away  on  the  edge  of  the  white 
circle,  which  was  lighted  by  the  rays  of  a  sinking  moon,  I 
saw  a  moving  speck,  and  one  of  the  troopers  shouted. 
Thereupon  the  spurs  went  in,  and  when  my  beast  shot  for- 
ward I  knew  that  the  police  horses  were  tired,  and  I  could 
readily  leave  them  behind.  Still,  I  was  not  an  officer  of  the 
law,  and  reflecting  that  my  presence  or  absence  would  in  no 
way  affect  the  fugitives'  chance  of  escape,  while  after  recent 
events  it  was  well  to  be  careful,  I  held  him  in. 

We  were  gaining,  however,  for  the  distant  object  de- 
veloped into  a  sleigh ;  but  the  moon  was  sinking  fast,  and  the 
dark  line  on  the  horizon,  with  a  fretted  edge,  betokened  the 
birches  fringing  Coulee  Rouge,  where  the  party  before  us 
might  well  escape. 


610       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Ride  ye,  boys !  "  cried  the  sergeant ;  but  the  beasts  were 
weary  and  the  blundering  gallop  was  a  poor  one,  while  I 
kept  a  firm  hand  on  the  good  horse's  rein,  holding  him  be- 
hind the  others  and  out  of  sight,  lest  Sergeant  Angus  should 
demand  an  exchange  in  the  Queen's  name.  This  was  not 
easy,  for  Ormond  had  hunted  coyotes  on  him  with  a  very 
scratch  pack  of  hounds,  while  one  of  the  troopers  kept  drop- 
ping back  toward  me,  and  the  beast  seemed  under  the  im- 
pression that  I  was  wilfully  throwing  away  my  chance  in  the 
race.  Meanwhile,  the  sleigh  grew  more  and  more  visible, 
though  I  did  not  doubt  that  its  occupants  were  doing  their 
utmost  to  gain  the  shelter  of  the  birches  in  the  dark  coulee, 
and  that  my  other  horse  was  suffering  at  their  hands  accord- 
ingly. Then  there  was  a  growl  from  the  sergeant  as  the 
sleigh  was  lost  on  the  edge  of  the  fringe  of  trees,  and 
presently  we  rode  panting  and  more  slowly  beneath  them, 
to  the  brink  of  the  coulee,  with  the  steam  from  the  horses 
rising  in  white  clouds  about  us.  It  was,  of  course,  particu- 
larly steep,  and  as  the  moonlight  only  filtered  through  the 
matted  branches  dark  shadow  for  the  most  part  veiled  the 
treacherous  descent,  which  the  troopers  accomplished  with 
many  a  stumble.  They  wrere  excellent  horsemen,  but  there 
is  a  limit  to  equine  endurance,  and  their  beasts  had  nearly 
reached  it.  Presently,  as  we  neared  the  very  rude  log  bridge 
which  spanned  the  inevitable  creek,  the  last  silvery  patch  of 
radiance  faded,  and  thick  darkness  filled  the  ravine. 

"Halt!"  said  the  sergeant.  "Confusion!  It's  pit 
dark !  "  and  drawing  rein  we  sat  still  a  few  moments,  listen- 
ing intently,  but  we  heard  only  the  branches  moaning  under 
the  bitter  breeze. 

"  There  are  two  trails,"  said  Sergeant  Angus.  "  Yon  one 
up  the  other  side  leads  south  away  for  Dakota;  this  follows 
the  coulee  to  Jake  Tetley's.  Tom,  ye're  proud  o'  your 
tracking,  ride  on  to  Tetley's,  an',  for  Jake's  good  at  lyin', 


THE  ROAD  TO  DAKOTA  311 

look  well  for  the  scrape  o'  runners  if  he  swears  he  has  not 
seen  them.  Finding  nothing,  if  ye  strike  southeast  over  the 
rises,  ye'll  head  us  off  on  the  Dakota  trail.  I'm  thinking 
they're  hurrying  that  way  for  the  border,  and  well  wait  for 
ye  by  the  Blackfoot  ridge." 

He  rubbed  a  fizzing  sulpher  match  into  sickly  flame;  but, 
as  the  banks  were  steep,  and  that  bridge  formed  a  favorite 
crossing,  the  snow  showed  the  recent  passage  of  many  run- 
ners, and  there  was  nothing  to  be  learned  from  them.  The 
wood  was  thicker  than  usual,  and  from  what  we  could  see 
there  was  no  way  a  sleigh  could  traverse  it  quickly  except  by 
the  two  trails.  So  the  trooper  departed  for  Tetley's  dwell- 
ing, which  lay  some  distance  up  the  coulee,  while  we  breasted 
the  opposite  slope  and  proceeded  more  slowly  through  the 
darkness  across  the  plain.  Half  an  hour  later  we  waited 
a  while  on  the  crest  of  one  of  the  gradual  rises  which  are  com- 
mon thereabout,  until  presently  a  hail  answered  the  sergeant's 
cry,  and  the  trooper  rejoined  us. 

"  They've  not  been  near  Tetley's,"  he  said.  "  Must  have 
pushed  on  straight  ahead  of  us.  I  made  him  bring  a  lantern, 
and  prospected  down  the  trail,  but  nothing  on  four  legs  has 
come  up  it  for  a  week  at  least." 

"  Where  do  you  think  they  have  gone?  "  I  asked,  and  the 
sergeant  answered  wearily: 

"  The  deil  knows,  but  it  will  be  south.  Weel,  we  have 
our  orders,  an'  their  cattle  are  failing,  while  even  if  we  miss 
them  we'll  strike  their  trail  by  daylight." 

"  I  hope  you  will,"  I  answered.  "  I'm  anxious  about  my 
horse,  but  I  can't  go  any  further  to-night.  He's  a  big  chest- 
nut, branded  small  O  inside  the  Carrington  C.  You'll  be 
careful  with  him,  won't  you?  " 

"  On  with  ye,  boys,"  said  the  sergeant.  "  A  fair  passage 
home,  Mr.  Lorimer;  I'm  envying  ye  a  warm  seat  by  the 
stove  to-night,"  and  the  mounted  figures  disappeared  into 


312      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  gloom,  while  more  leisurely  I  headed  back  toward  the 
coulee.  Orders  were  orders  with  the  Northwest  Police, 
and  though  they  had  ridden  under  Arctic  cold  most  of  the 
day  they  must  also  spend  the  night  in  the  saddle  if  the  horses 
could  keep  their  footing  much  longer,  which,  however, 
seemed  doubtful.  The  search  might  last  several  days,  and  I 
could  not  leave  Aline  so  long,  while  a  Brandon  man  of  busi- 
ness had  arranged  to  call  on  me  the  next  afternoon,  and  I 
knew  that  if  the  troopers  came  upon  it  the  horse  would  be 
in  good  hands.  Still,  the  police  at  least  were  strong  men, 
and  I  rather  pitied  Minnie  Fletcher  slowly  freezing  in  the 
bitter  darkness  under  Aline's  furs.  I  was  glad  now  that  she 
had  lent  them  to  her.  Minnie  evidently  had  not  expected 
that  the  troopers,  being  warned  by  telegraph,  would  take  up 
the  trail  so  soon. 

Then  for  the  first  time  I  recollected  that  Tetley  had 
been  cutting  building  logs  on  a  more  level  strip  half-way  up 
the  side  of  the  ravine,  and  had  cleared  a  jumper  trail  toward 
it.  The  sergeant  certainly  did  not  know  this,  and  it  struck 
me  that  while  his  party  searched  the  two  forking  trails 
Fletcher's  sleigh  might  well  have  lain  hidden  in  the  blind 
one,  and  I  turned  the  horse's  head  toward  Tetley 's  dwelling. 
When  I  neared  it  my  suspicions  were  confirmed,  for  a  rough 
voice  hailed  me  from  under  the  trees : 

"  What  are  you  wanting,  stranger?     Stop  there!  " 

"  I  want  Jim  Tetley,"  I  answered. 

"  He's  way  down  to  Dakota,  and  you  can't  see  him,"  the 
unseen  person  said. 

To  this  I  replied  at  a  venture :  "  I'm  too  cold  for  un- 
necessary fooling.  Jim  Tetley  is  inside  there.  Go  right  in, 
and  tell  him  that  Lorimer  of  Fairmead  is  waiting  for  his 
horse.     He'll  understand  that  message." 

"  Now  you're  talking,"  said  the  man  showing  himself. 
"  Stay  where  you  are  until  I  come  back."     And  when  he 


THE  ROAD  TO  DAKOTA  313 

returned,  he  said :  "  You  can  have  it  on  the  promise  you'll 
tell  no  one  what  you  see.  It's  not  healthy  to  break  one's 
bargain,  either,  with  Jim  Tetley,  while  living  in  a  wooden 
house  with  a  strawpile  granary." 

"  I'm  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Fletcher,  and  I'm  in  a  hurry,"  I 
answered  boldly,  and  when  he  ushered  me  into  the  dwelling 
I  saw  what  I  had  expected.  Minnie  lay  back  limp  and  color- 
less in  a  big  chair  by  the  stove.  Fletcher  knelt  close  beside 
her  chafing  her  wrists,  and  the  table  was  littered  with  wrap- 
pings, while  Tetley  frowned  at  me  from  one  end  of  the 
room. 

"  Fletcher,"  I  said.  "  You  and  your  advocate  worked  up 
a  lying  charge  against  me.  Shall  I  ask  your  wife  before 
you  whether  it's  true?  Do  you  know  that  in  half  an  hour  I 
could  bring  the  police  on  you  ?  " 

"  I  guess  you  won't,"  said  Tetley,  laying  his  hand  signifi- 
cantly on  the  rifle  behind  him;  while  Fletcher  answered 
sullenly,  "  You  needn't.  I  know  now  it  isn't  true.  But  I 
was  mad,  and  believed  it  at  first,  and  afterward  it  was  either 
that  or  five  years.  There  were  other  counts  against  me ;  and 
what  could  a  poor  man  do?  " 

Minnie  looked  at  him  with  disgust,  and  shivered  as  she 
snatched  one  of  her  hands  from  his  grasp.  "  It  was  very 
good  of  your  sister,  Ralph,"  she  said,  "  and  I  knew  you  would 
forgive  me  for  borrowing  the  horse ;  he  is  there  in  the  stable, 
and  Tetley  will  find  Tom  another.  It  was  an  awful 
journey,  even  before  we  reached  Fairmead,  where  I  hid  him 
in  the  bottom  of  the  sleigh ;  and  they  brought  me  in  here  al- 
most frozen  stiff." 

"  I  thought  she  was  gone,  poor  thing!  "  said  Mrs.  Tetley,. 
who  was  cooking  something  on  the  stove;  and  her  husband 
broke  in:  "  She  looked  like  it.  Cuss  them  police!  But  we 
euchred  them.  A  young  trooper  rides  up  to  the  door  and 
drives  me  round  prospecting  with  a  lantern.     Of  course,  he 


314       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

found  nothing,  and  when  he  rode  off  I  began  to  tumble. 
Found  your  friends  in  the  log-trail  and  brought  them  in, 
knowing  them  blame  troopers  wouldn't  come  back  again. 
Sergeant  Angus  is  a  smart  man,  but  he  doesn't  know  every- 
thing, and  I'll  see  Fletcher  and  his  missis  safe  in  the  hands 
of  a  friend  who  will  slip  them  over  the  border." 

"  I'm  not  going,"  said  Minnie.  "  Ralph  —  and  you  all 
can  listen  —  my  husband  came  to  me  desperate  and  hopeless 
in  fear  of  the  law.  Oh,  it's  no  secret,  all  the  prairie  knows 
that  he  used  me  scandalously  —  but  he  was  my  husband  — 
and  I  could  not  give  him  up.  So  I  took  the  few  dollars  I 
had  and  hired  the  sleigh,  and  when  the  horse  fell  dead  lame 
we  came  to  Fairmead.  I  knew,  though  we  had  wronged 
you,  I  could  trust  you.  Now  he's  in  safe  hands;  I'm  going 
no  further  with  him.  There  are  some  things  one  cannot  for- 
get. I  shall  tell  the  story  to  the  people  who  employed  me; 
they  are  kind-hearted  folk,  but  it  doesn't  matter  if  they  give 
me  up.     I'm  sick  of  this  life,  and  nothing  matters  now." 

She  broke  out  half-sobbing,  half-laughing  wildly,  and 
though  Fletcher  growled  something  sullenly,  hanging  his 
head  with  the  air  of  a  whipped  hound,  I  fancied  that  he 
seemed  relieved  at  this  decision,  and  was  slightly  surprised 
to  see  he  had  even  the  decency  to  appear  ashamed  of  himself. 
Then,  knowing  that  the  people  she  worked  for  would  do 
their  best  for  Minnie,  I  determined  to  write  to  them,  and  I 
asked  Tetley  to  bring  out  the  horse. 

"  Can't  I  give  you  a  shakedown  in  the  stable  until  morn- 
ing? "  he  said.  "  The  missis  will  look  after  Mrs.  Fletcher, 
and  see  she  gets  back  safe,"  and  he  added  so  that  the  others 
could  not  hear  him,  "  Fletcher's  meaner  than  poison,  and  I'd 
let  the  troopers  have  him  and  welcome,  only  for  the  sake  of 
the  woman,  and  because  he  knows  enough  about  some  friends 
of  mine  to  make  things  lively  if  he  talked." 

Tetley  was  of  course  a  rascal,  but  there  was  a  certain 


THE  ROAD  TO  DAKOTA  615 

warped  honesty  in  his  dealings  with  brother  rogues  —  at 
least  so  rumor  said  —  and  I  knew  if  he  had  given  his  promise 
he  could  be  trusted,  while  a  few  of  his  perfectly  honest  neigh- 
bors were  sorry  when  not  long  afterward  Sergeant  Angus 
proved  too  sharp  for  him. 

"  No,  thanks,"  I  answered.  "  My  horse  would  be  worth 
a  great  deal  in  Dakota,  and  I'll  clear  out  while  I'm  sure  of 
him." 

"  Good-bye,  Ralph,"  said  Minnie,  when  I  donned  the  fur 
cap  and  mittens.  "  I  don't  suppose  I  shall  ever  see  you 
again  —  no,  of  course  you  won't  be  sorry ;  but  you  and 
Jasper  were  the  only  two  who  ever  showed  me  kindness  in 
this  hard,  hard  country.  I  wish,  oh,  how  I  wish  I  had  never 
seen  it!  Tell  my  father  to  forget  me,  the  sooner  the  better. 
I  have  chosen  my  own  way,  and  must  follow  it.  It's  lead- 
ing me  to  prison  now." 

She  appeared  about  to  relapse  into  hysterics,  and  knowing 
that  I  could  not  help  her  at  the  moment,  and  might  only 
make  matters  worse,  I  stopped  Fletcher  with  a  threatening 
gesture  as  he  prepared  to  address  me,  and  hurried  out  with 
Tetley,  who  showed  me  the  horse. 

"  You'll  strike  Cranton's  heading,  due  east  by  the  chain 
sloos,  in  a  league,"  he  said.  "  He  deals  with  us  sometimes, 
and  you  needn't  fear  his  talking.  Don't  trouble  about 
Mrs.  Fletcher.     She's  all  right." 

I  rode  out  leading  one  of  the  horses,  and  in  due  time 
reached  Cranton's,  though  I  nearly  beat  the  door  in  before 
I  roused  him,  and  I  left  him  the  next  morning  with  his 
curiosity  unsatisfied.  That  was  the  last  I  ever  saw  of 
Thomas  Fletcher.  Neither  did  Sergeant  Angus  find  his 
trail,  for  Tetley  knew  every  foot  of  the  prairie,  and  enjoyed 
the  reputation  of  being  unequaled  in  his  own  somewhat  mys- 
terious business,  which  I  understood  demanded  a  high  pro- 
ficiency in  evading  the  watchfulness  of  the  police. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

THE  RECALL  OF  ADAM  LEE 

TX^HEN  I  returned  to  Fairmead  I  wrote  two  letters.  One 
was  to  Minnie's  employer,  who  kept  a  flourishing  im- 
plement store  further  down  the  line,  to  which  he  had  lately 
added  a  somewhat  primitive  hotel,  in  whose  management 
I  understood  Minnie  assisted.  He  was  an  enterprising,  good- 
natured  Manitoban,  and  everybody  spoke  well  of  his  wife, 
so,  having  had  dealings  with  him,  I  requested  an  interview. 

In  the  other  I  told  Harry  all  that  had  passed,  asking  him 
to  transmit  as  much  as  he  thought  proper  to  Lee,  and  then 
awaited  developments.  The  first  result  was  a  note  from 
storekeeper  Moran  saying  that  as  he  was  looking  up  orders 
for  implements  he  would  call  on  me,  which  he  did  presently, 
and  proceeded  to  discuss  the  matter  with  frankness. 

"  My  wife  has  taken  a  fancy  to  Mrs.  Fletcher,',  he  said. 
"  We  just  call  her  Minnie  because  there's  no  particular 
reason  to  handicap  her  with  her  husband's  name.  She's  a 
mighty  smart  honest  woman,  and  we  knew  that  story  about 
you  was  a  lie  from  the  beginning  —  did  our  best  to  keep  it 
from  her,  but  I  think  she  knew.  We  were  startled  some 
when  she  lit  out  with  the  sleigh,  but  she  came  back  half- 
dead,  and  we  asked  no  questions  until  she  told  us.  She's 
been  sick  and  fretful  since,  but  I  guess  there's  nothing  you 
can  do.  When  we  can't  keep  a  sick  woman  who  has  done 
good  work  for  us  a  while  we'll  give  up  the  business.  She'll 
be  pert  again  directly." 

"  You  are  a  very  kind  man,"  said  Aline,  glancing  at  him 
critically. 

316 


THE  RECALL  OF  ADAM  LEE  317 

"  Thank  you,  miss,"  Moran  answered.  "  You  just  make 
your  mind  easy  about  Mrs.  Fletcher;  and  now,  Lorimer, 
we'll  talk  business.  You'll  want  a  new  binder  if  you're 
putting  in  much  of  a  crop,  and  I've  got  the  latest  machines 
coming  in  from  Toronto." 

Aline  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  I  joined  her, 
for  the  speech  was  characteristic  of  the  native  prairie  in- 
habitants' character.  Frugal,  but  open-handed,  hard  to 
beat  at  a  bargain,  they  are  equally  swift  to  seize  upon  all 
chances  that  lead  to  business  and  do  the  stranger  an  unos- 
tentatious kindness,  though  they  have  no  false  delicacy  in 
forthwith  establishing  commercial  relations  with  the  man 
they  benefit. 

"Don't  see  any  joke!"  said  Moran.  "You  want  a 
binder.  I've  seen  the  old  one,  and  I've  got  lots  to  sell.  Of 
course  we'll  look  after  Mrs.  Fletcher,  but  that's  no  reason  I 
should  miss  a  deal." 

The  result  was  that  I  ordered  an  expensive  binder  which 
I  had  hoped  to  do  without,  and  presently  Moran  departed 
with  the  order  in  his  pocket. 

"  I  think  he  was  very  sensible,"  said  Aline,  "  and  you 
know  you  said  the  old  machine  would  hardly  have  lasted." 

Harry  answered  promptly,  and  said  he  expected  I  should 
see  Lee  very  soon.  He  had  been  restless  ever  since  he  heard 
of  Fletcher's  blacksliding,  and  had,  among  other  things, 
embarked  upon  two  unpopular  crusades.  He  even  seemed 
disappointed,  Harry  added,  because  there  wras  so  little 
drunkenness  and  loose  living  for  him  to  grapple  with. 

"  That  is  so  like  a  man,"  said  Aline  when  she  read  the 
letter.  "Where  is  your  boasted  consistency?  He  ought 
to  be  thankful.  But  you  have  missed  the  postscript  about 
Uncle  Martin.  This  is  what  Harry  says:  '  I  met  him  in 
long  boots  one  day  when  I  went  up  to  see  Calvert,  trailing 
a  survey  chain  not  far  from  the  Day  Spring  mine,  and  when 


318       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

I  asked  him  what  he  was  doing  it  for,  and  whether  snow- 
slush  was  good  for  lumbago,  he  smiled  and  answered  in  the 
silver  tongue  of  your  native  country  something  I  failed  to 
comprehend.  For  a  respectable »  cotton-spinner,  as  I  told 
him,  he  has  developed  curious  ways/ 

"  You  will  see  by-and-by,  and  so  will  that  arrogant 
Colonel,"  said  Aline.  "  He  has  offended  him  bitterly,  and  I 
shouldn't  like  to  be  an  enemy  of  Uncle  Martin's." 

There  was  an  interlude  of  quietness,  and  then,  when  at 
last  the  winter  showed  signs  of  relaxing  its  iron  grip,  and 
the  snow  grew  soft  at  noon,  events  commenced  to  follow 
fast  upon  one  another.  Jasper  drove  up  from  the  railroad 
one  afternoon  bringing  Lee  with  him,  and  then  departed 
with,  I  thought,  undue  precipitancy,  leaving  myself  and  the 
old  man  alone,  for  I  had  increased  the  accommodation  at 
Fairmead,  and  Aline  discreetly  withdrew.  He  had  of  course 
read  the  papers,  though  not  until  some  time  after  the  trial, 
and  was  good  enough  to  say  he  never  doubted  my  innocence. 
Still,  I  had  to  repeat  all  the  unpleasant  details,  until  at  last 
Aline  returned  to  prepare  supper. 

Then  he  sighed  as  he  said :  "  It's  a  bad  business,  but  I 
feared  from  the  start  this  would  be  the  end  of  it.  And  now 
I'm  going  to  tell  thee  something.  I've  served  thee  and  thy 
partner  as  well  as  I  could,  and  I've  saved  some  money  doing 
it.  It's  a  gradely  life  up  yonder,  in  spite  of  the  snow  and 
cold  —  ay,  I  would  ask  no  better  than  to  end  my  days  there, 
but  it's  over  easy  and  peaceful  in  a  world  that's  brimming 
with  misery,  and  IVe  been  feeling  like  Jonah  when  he  fled 
with  his  message." 

Aline  smiled  at  me  over  her  shoulder,  and  I  stared  at 
him  in  amaze,  saying,  "  I  never  found  it  either  particularly 
easy  or  peaceful.     I  don't  quite  understand  you." 

"  No,"  said  Lee,  changing  in  a  moment  to  his  old 
pedantic  style   I   had   almost   forgotten.     "  Thou   hast   net 


THE  RECALL  OF  ADAM  LEE  319 

the  message ;  it's  thy  work  to  till  the  soil,  and  I  had  thought 
to  bide  in  this  good  land  helping  thee  until  my  time  came. 
But  a  voice  kept  on  saying,  '  Go  back  to  them  hopeless 
poor  and  drunkards  thou  left  in  Lancashire.'  I  would  not 
listen.  The  devil  whispered  I  was  worn  out  and  done,  but 
when  I  talked  with  Harry,  he,  not  having  understanding, 
said :  '  You're  looking  younger  every  day.  If  I  heard  those 
kind  of  things  I  should  say  it  was  liver.'  " 

Aline  no  longer  smiled,  but  sat  watching  him  and 
listening  gravely,  and  I  began  to  catch  a  glimmer  of  his 
meaning. 

"  The  folks  at  chapel  had  not  forgotten  me,"  continued 
Lee,  "  and  they  were  in  trouble.  There  was  another  man 
took  up  the  work  I  left,  but  he  went  off  with  t'  brass 
they'd  gathered  for  a  new  gallery,  and  they  wrote  they'd 
see  I  got  back  the  old  shop  if  I  come  home  again.  And 
because  I  was  weak  and  fearful  o'  the  grinding  struggle 
over  there,  I  did  not  go.  They  wrote  another  letter,  but 
still  I  bided,  until  I  read  this  paper." 

He  spread  out  a  soiled  English  journal,  and,  running  a 
crooked  finger  across  it,  read  out  the  headings,  with  extracts, 
at  some  of  which,  remembering  Aline's  presence,  I  frowned. 
It  was  only  a  plain  record  of  what  happens  in  the  crowded 
cities  of  the  older  land  —  a  murder,  two  suicides,  and  the 
inevitable  destitution  and  drunkenness,  but  he  looked  up 
with  kindling  eyes. 

"  I  could  not  shut  my  ears.  The  call  was,  '  come  an' 
help  us,'  an'  I'm  going.  Going  back  out  of  the  sunshine  into 
the  slums  o'  Lancashire." 

This,  I  reflected,  was  the  man  who  had  once  attempted 
my  life  —  igorant,  intolerant,  and  filled  with  prejudice,  but 
at  least  faithful  to  the  light  wTithin  him;  and  I  knew  that 
even  if  he  failed  signally,  the  aim  he  set  before  himself 
was  a  great  one.     No  suitable  answer,  however,  suggested 


320       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

itself,  and  I  was  thankful  when  Aline  said,  "  It  is  a  very  fine 
thing  to  do.     But  what  about  j^our  daughter?  " 

"Her  place  was  by  her  husband,"  said  Lee;  "but  her 
husband  left  her.  Minnie  is  going  back  with  me.  Your 
brother  will  take  me  to  see  her  to-morrow." 

I  did  so,  at  the  risk  of  overtaxing  the  horses  by  a  trying 
journey  through  softening  snow;  but  I  sent  a  telegram  to 
Minnie,  and  when  we  left  the  cars  she  was  there  to  meet 
us,  looking  weak  and  ill,  with  shadows  in  the  hollows 
round  her  eyes. 

"  It  wras  very  good  of  you  to  come,  father,"  she  said. 
"  I  was  an  undutiful  daughter,  and  I  suffered  for  it.  Now 
I  have  broken  the  law,  and  the  police  troopers  could  take 
me  to  prison.  But  I  am  tired  of  it  all,  father,  and  if  you 
will  have  me  I  am  going  home  with  you." 

"  Thou'rt  my  own  lass,"  said  Lee;  and  I  found  some- 
thing required  my  presence  elsewhere,  for  Minnie  was 
shaken  by  emotion  as  she  clung  to  him.  And  yet  this 
tearful  woman  had  outwitted  the  tireless  wardens  of  the 
prairie,  and,  in  spite  of  the  law's  vigilance  and  deadly 
cold,  smuggled  her  faithless  husband  safe  across  the 
border. 

We  stayed  at  Moran's  Hotel  that  night,  and  Mrs. 
Moran  acted  with  unusual  good-nature,  in  the  circum- 
stances, for  she  not  only  suffered  Minnie  to  leave  her  at  the 
commencement  of  the  busy  season,  but  bestowed  many 
small  presents  upon  her,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
I  avoided  giving  her  husband  an  order  for  sufficient  imple- 
ments to  till  the  whole  of  the  Fairmead  district. 

"  Now  that  you're  here  you  had  better  make  sure  of  a 
bargain  while  you  have  a  chance,"  he  said.  "  Say,  as 
a  matter  of  friendship  I'll  put  them  in  at  five  per  cent, 
under  your  best  offer  from  Winnipeg." 

Though   I   wished   them   both   good   fortune,   satisfaction 


THE  RECALL  OF  ADAM  LEE  321 

was  largely  mingled  with  my  regret  when  the  next  day  I 
stood  in  the  little  station  looking  after  the  train  which  bore 
Lee  and  his  daughter  back  to  his  self-imposed  task  in 
smoky  Stoney  Clough.  Neither  of  them  ever  crossed  my 
path  again;  but  still  Harry  and  I  discuss  the  old  man's 
doings,  and  Aline  says  that  there  was  a  trace  of  the  hero 
hidden  under  his  most  unheroic  exterior. 

Not  long  after  this  Calvert  called  on  us,  and  spent 
two  days  at  Fairmead  before  he  went  east  again.  He  ex- 
plained his  visit  as  follows :  "  The  Day  Spring  will  have 
to  get  on  as  best  it  can  without  my  services.  The  fact  is, 
I  can't  stand  its  owner  any  longer.  I  was  never  very  fond 
of  him  —  no  one  is,  but  I  liked  poor  Ormond,  and  stayed 
for  his  sake.  So,  informing  the  Colonel  that  he  could  hence- 
forward run  the  mine  himself,  I  pulled  out  hoping  to  get  a 
railroad  appointment  in  Winnipeg.  By  the  way,  there  is 
trouble  brewing  between  him  and  your  uncle." 

Aline  nodded  toward  me  meaningly,  and  Calvert  con- 
tinued : 

"  Our  tunnel  leads  out  beside  one  boundary  of  the  Day 
Spring  claim.  I  must  explain  that  of  late  we  found  signs 
that,  in  spite  of  a  fault,  the  best  of  the  reef  stretched  under 
adjoining  soil,  and  it  was  only  owing  to  disagreements  with 
his  men,  and  my  refusal,  that  the  Colonel  neglected  to  jump 
the  record  of  a  poor  fellow  who  couldn't  put  in  the  legal 
improvements.  He  had  intended  to  do  so;  while  I  believe 
the  miner,  who  fell  sick,  told  your  uncle.  This  will  make 
clear  a  good  deal;  you  should  remember  it.  Well,  to  work 
our  adit  we  had  to  make  an  ore  and  dirt  dump  on  adjacent 
land;  and  we'd  hardly  started  it  than  two  men  began 
felling  timber  right  across  our  skidway,  until,  speaking  as 
if  he  commanded  the  universe,  the  Colonel  ordered  them 
off.  They  didn't  go,  however;  and  I  really  thought  he 
would   have   a   fit   when   one   of   them   said   with   a   grin, 


322       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

1  Light  out  of  this,  and  be  quick.  Don't  you  know  you're 
trespassing?  ■ 

44  Colonel  Carrington  turned  his  back  on  them,  and  bade 
us  run  out  the  trolley  along  the  wooden  way;  and  I  did  so, 
against  my  judgment,  for  one  of  the  men  looked  ugly,  and 
my  master  wasn't  exactly  a  favorite.  The  other  fellow 
was  busy  with  the  axe,  and  when  he  gave  me  a  warning  to 
get  out  I  proceeded  to  act  upon  it  —  which  was  fortunate, 
for  a  big  hemlock  came  down  on  the  trolley,  and  all  that 
was  left  of  it  wasn't  worth  picking  up.  Colonel  Carrington 
doesn't  usually  give  himself  away,  but  he  swore  vividly,  and 
I  went  with  him  the  next  day  into  the  timber  city.  It's  get- 
ting a  big  place  already.  He  stalked  into  the  land  agent's 
office  with  a  patronizing  air,  and  then  said  with  his  usual 
frigidity: 

14  4  Who  owns  the  timber  lots  about  the  Day  Spring?  I'm 
going  to  buy  them.' 

14  4  You  can't  do  it,'  said  the  agent.  '  My  client  won't 
sell,  and  wants  to  give  you  warning  that  he  doesn't  like 
trespassing.' 

"  '  That  means  he  wants  a  big  price,'  said  the  Colonel, 
looking  at  the  map.     4  What's  his  figure  ?  ' 

44  And  the  agent  grinned  as  he  answered,  4  For  the  piece 
you  require  for  the  ore-dump,  ten  thousand  dollars.' 

44 4  He  is  mad,'  said  the  Colonel,  '  perfectly  stark  mad. 
Tell  him  I  shall  dump  my  refuse  on  it,  if  I  have  to  finance 
somebody  to  locate  a  mineral  claim.  What  is  the  name 
of  this  lunatic?  ' 

44  4  Martin  Lorimer,'  said  the  agent.  4  The  crown  in  that 
case  gives  you  the  minerals ;  but  before  you  put  a  pick  into 
the  ground  you  must  meet  all  demands  for  compensation  — 
and  they'll  be  mighty  heavy  ones.  My  client  is  also  prepared 
to  collect  them  by  the  best  legal  assistance  that  money  can 
buy,  and  I  guess  you've  given  him  a  useful  hint.' 


THE  RECALL  OF  ADAM  LEE  323 

"My  respected  chief  just  walked  out;  but  I  think  he 
was  troubled  at  the  name,"  said  Calvert.  "  And  after  that 
there  was  some  fresh  difficulty  every  week,  while  his 
temper,  which  was  never  a  good  one,  got  perfectly  awful, 
until  I  came  away.  He'll  go  off  in  a  fit  of  apoplexy  or 
paralytic  seizure  when  his  passion  breaks  loose  some 
day." 

Calvert  furnished  other  particulars  before  he  resumed 
his  eastward  journey,  leaving  me  with  much  to  ponder. 
An  actively  worked  mine  is  a  public  benefit,  and  its  owners 
usually  have  free  access  and  privilege  upon  the  adjacent 
soil;  but  I  knew  that  in  such  matters  as  cutting  timber, 
water,  and  ore  and  refuse  heaps  a  hostile  neighbor  could 
harass  them  considerably.  "  Uncle  Martin  is  going  to 
enjoy  himself,"  said  Aline,  when  I  told  her  so. 

It  was  some  weeks  later  when  Harry  and  his  assistants 
came  home,  bringing  with  him  a  heavy  bank  draft  and 
a  wallet  stuffed  with  (dollar  bills.  He  looked  more  hand- 
some and  winning  than  ever  when  he  greeted  Aline,  and  — 
though  it  needed  some  experience  of  her  ways  to  come 
to  this  conclusion  —  I  could  tell  that  she  regarded  him  with 
approval.  He  had  finished  the  railroad  work,  and  when  he 
had  furnished  full  details  about  it,  he  showed  that  he  had 
thoughtfully  considered  other  matters,  for  he  said: 

"  Ralph,  I  guessed  you  would  be  busy  altering  Fairmead 
on  opportunity,  and  now  that  your  sister  has  turned  it  into  a 
palace  I  should  always  be  afraid  of  spoiling  something;  so  I 
have  arranged  by  mail  to  camp  with  Hudson,  of  the  next 
preemption.  His  place  is  scarcely  a  mile  away.  Miss 
Lorimer,  you  don't  realize  the  joys  of  living  as  a  bachelor, 
or  you  would  freely  forgive  me." 

"  I  think  I  do,"  said  Aline.  "  Half-cooked  food  on  plates 
that  have  not  been  washed  for  weeks  and  weeks,  and  a 
house    like    a    pig-stye.     Have    I    not    seen    my    brother 


3U      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

reveling  in  them?  Mr.  Harry  Lorraine,  from  what 
Ralph  has  told  me,  there  is  no  one  I  should  more  gladly- 
welcome  to  Fairmead  than  its  part-owner,  and  I  am 
surprised  that  he  should  prefer  the  pig-stye.  Still,  in  ref- 
erence to  the  latter,  is  there  not  a  warning  about  blindly 
casting?  " 

"  There  is,"  laughed  Harry.  "  I  crave  mercy.  In  token 
of  submission  I  will  help  you  to  wash  those  dishes  now." 
And,  being  perfectly  satisfied  to  be  for  once  relieved  of  the 
duty,  I  lounged  in  the  ox-hide  chair  watching  them  through 
the  blue  tobacco  smoke,  and  noting  what  a  well-matched 
couple  they  were.  An  hour  had  sufficed  to  make  them 
good  friends;  and  I  was  quite  aware  that  Harry  had 
entered  into  the  arrangement  merely  for  our  own  sake, 
Hudson,  as  everybody  knew,  being  neither  an  over-cleanly 
nor  companionable  person. 

When  the  last  plate  had  been  duly  polished  and  placed 
in  the  rack  that  Aline  had  insisted  on  my  making,  Harry 
spread  out  a  bundle  of  papers. 

"  Now  we  will  settle  down  to  discuss  the  spring  campaign, 
if  your  sister  will  excuse  us,"  he  said. 

"  Aline  is  already  longing  to  show  me  how  to  run 
a  farm.  Go  on,  and  beware  how  you  lay  any  weak  points 
open  to  her  criticism,"  I  answered. 

"  In  the  first  place,  there  is  the  inevitable  decision  to 
make  between  two  courses,"  said  Harry ;  "  the  little- 
venture-little-win  method  or  the  running  of  heavy  risks 
for  a  heavy  prize.  Personally  I  favor  the  latter,  which 
we  have  adopted  before,  and,  which  I  think  you  have  already 
decided  on." 

"  I  have,"  I  said. 

"  Then  wTe  will  take  It  as  settled  that  we  put  every  pos- 
sible acre  under  crop  this  spring,  hiring  assistance  largely, 


THE  RECALL  OF  ADAM  LEE  325 

which,  based  on  your  own  figures,  should  leave  us  this 
balance.  It's  a  pity  to  work  poor  Ormond's  splendid  beasts 
at  the  plough,  but  of  course  you  wouldn't  like  to  sell  them, 
and  they  must  earn  their  keep.  The  next  question  is  the 
disposal  of  the  balance." 

"  I  would  not  sell  them  for  any  price,,,  I  said.  "  My 
idea  is  to  invest  all  the  balance  —  except  enough  to  purchase 
seed  and  feed  us  during  winter  if  the  crop  fails  —  in  cattle, 
buying  a  new  mower,  and  hiring  again  to  cut  hay.  It's 
locked-up  money,  but  the  profit  should  provide  a>  handsome 
interest,  and  there's  talk  of  a  new  creamery  at  Carrington, 
which  promises  a  good  market  for  milk.  This  brings  us 
back  to  the  old  familiar  position.  We  shall  be  prosperous 
men  if  all  goes  well,  with  just  enough  to  pay  our  debts  if  it 
doesn't." 

"  I  look  for  the  former,"  said  Harry.  "  But  with  your 
permission  we'll  deduct  this  much  for  a  building  fund  —  half 
to  be  employed  at  the  discretion  of  either.  You  will  want  to 
further  extend  this  dwelling,  and  I  may  buy  Hudson's  place 
under  mortgage.  It  would  be  well-sunk  money,  for  at  the 
worst  we  could  get  it  back  if  we  sold  the  property.  You 
agree?  Then  the  whole  affair  is  settled,  and  it  only  re- 
mains for  Miss  Lorimer  to  wish  us  prosperity." 

"  You  are  a  very  considerate  partner,  Mr.  Lorraine,  and  if 
I  were  a  wheat-grower  I  should  be  proud  to  trust  you.  May 
all  and  every  success  attend  your  efforts.  Now  put  up  those 
papers,  and  tell  me  about  British  Columbia." 

It  was  very  late  when  Harry  walked  back  to  Hudson's, 
while  I  did  not  sleep  all  night,  thinking  over  the  tremendous 
difference  that  success  or  failure  would  make  to  myself  and 
Grace. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE 

FT  was  a  perfect  day  when  we  commenced  the  ploughing, 
and  we  hailed  it  as  a  favorable  augury  that  cloudless  sun- 
shine flooded  the  steaming  prairie.  Glittering  snow  still 
filled  the  hollows  here  and  there,  but  already  the  flowers 
lifted  their  buds  above  the  whitened  sod,  and  the  air  vibrated 
to  the  beat  of  tired  wings  as  the  wild  fowl  returned  like 
heralds  of  summer  on  their  northward  journey.  We  had 
three  hired  men  to  help  us,  in  addition  to  the  teams  driven 
by  myself  and  Harry;  but,  and  this  was  his  own  fancy,  it 
was  Aline  who  commenced  the  work. 

"  You  will  remember  our  hopes  and  fears  the  day  we 
first  put  in  the  share.  Many  things  have  happened  since," 
he  said,  "  but  once  more  the  harvest  means  a  great  deal  to 
both  of  us.  Miss  Lorimer  —  and  we  are  now  more 
fortunate,  Ralph,  than  we  were  then  —  you  will  imagine 
yourself  an  ancient  priestess,  and  bless  the  soil  for  us.  That 
always  struck  me  as  an  appropriate  custom." 

The  wind  had  freshened  the  roses  in  Aline's  cheeks,  and 
her  eyes  sparkled  as  she  patted  the  brawny  oxen.  Then 
she  grasped  the  plough-stilts,  and,  calling  to  the  beasts, 
Harry  strode  beside  her,  with  his  brown  hand  laid  close 
beside  her  white  one.  Theirs  was  the  better  furrow,  for, 
tramping  behind  my  own  team  not  far  away,  I  could  hardly 
keep  my  eyes  oil  the  pair.  Both  had  grown  very  dear  to 
me,  and  they  were  worth  the  watching  —  the  handsome 
strong  man,  and  the  eager  bright-faced  girl,  whose  merry 
326 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE      327 

laugh  mingled  with  the  soft  sound  of  clods  parting  beneath 
the  share.  They  stopped  at  the  end  of  the  furrow,  and  I 
wondered  when  Aline  said  with  strange  gentleness:  "  God 
bless  the  good  soil,  and  give  the  seed  increase,  that  we  may 
use  the  same  for  Thy  glory,  the  relief  of  those  that  are 
needy,  and  our  own  comfort." 

"Amen!  "  said  Harry,  bending  his  uncovered  head,  as,  a 
sinewy,  graceful  figure  in  dusty  canvas,  with  the  white  sod 
behind  him,  he  helped  her  across  a  raw  strip  of  steaming 
clod,  while  neither  of  us  spoke  again  until  we  had  com- 
pleted another  furrow.  It  was  a  glorious  spring,  and  not 
for  long  years  had  there  been  such  a  seed  time,  the 
men  who  helped  us  said,  while  my  hopes  rose  with 
every  fresh  acre  we  drilled  with  the  good  grain.  I  was 
sowing  the  best  that  was  within  me  as  well  as  the  best 
hard  wheat,  and  it  seemed  that  the  rest  of  my  life  de- 
pended on  the  result  of  it.  There  is  no  need  to  tell 
how  we  labored  among  the  black  clods  of  the  breaking,  or 
the  dust  that  followed  the  harrows,  under  the  cool  of  morn- 
ing or  the  mid-day  sun,  for  we  were  young  and  strong, 
fighting  for  our  own  hand,  with  a  great  reward  before  at 
least  one  of  us.  Still,  at  times  I  remembered  Lee,  who  was 
in  his  own  way  fighting  a  harder  battle  against  drunkenness 
and  misery,  the  reward  of  which  was  only  hardship  and 
poverty.  Once  I  said  so  to  Aline,  and  she  answered  me: 
"  It  was  his  vocation ;  he  could  not  help  it.  Yours,  and  I 
do  not  think  you  could  help  it  either  —  you  would  have 
made  a  remarkably  poor  preacher,  Ralph  —  is  to  break  new 
wheat-lands  out  of  the  wilderness;  for,  you  will  remember 
—  well,  I'm  not  a  preacher  either,  but  not  wholly  for  Grace 
or  yourself." 

Women,  I  have  since  learned,  not  infrequently  see, 
perhaps  by  instinct,  deeper  into  primal  causes  than  men,  and 
there  was  more  in  her  words  than  perhaps  she  realized,  for 


328       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

though  the  immediate  impulse  may  be  trifling  or  unworthy, 
it  is  destiny  that  has  set  the  task  before  us,  and  in  spite  of 
the  doer's  shortcomings  it  is  for  the  good  of  many  that  all 
thorough  work  stands.  Many  a  reckless  English  scrapegrace 
has  driven  the  big  breaker  through  new  Canadian  land 
because  he  dare  not  await  the  result  of  his  folly  at  home, 
but  nevertheless,  if  he  ploughed  well,  has  helped  to  fill  the 
hungry  in  the  land  he  left  behind. 

It  was  during  the  sowing  that  Aline  showed  me  a  para- 
graph in  a  Victoria  paper  which  said,  among  its  mining  news : 
"  We  hear  that  the  Day  Spring  will  probably  close  down 
pending  negotiations  for  sale.  For  some  time  there  has  been 
friction  with  the  owner  of  the  neighboring  property,  who 
has  also  located  a  mineral  claim,  and,  it  is  said,  has  exacted 
large  sums  for  compensation.  We  understand  there  are  in- 
dications of  fair  payable  ore,  but  further  capital  is  needed 
to  get  at  it.  We  do  not  desire  to  emulate  some  news- 
papers in  sensational  stories,  but  there  is  a  tale  of  a  hard 
fight  for  this  mine  between  two  Englishmen,  one  of  whom 
championed  the  cause  of  an  oppressed  colonist." 

"  It  seems  cruel,"  said  Aline.  "  I  am  afraid  Uncle 
Martin  is  very  revengeful,  and  I  wish  he  had  not  done  so 
much.  However,  from  what  I  hear,  Colonel  Carrington 
almost  deserves  it,  and  he  has  evidently  treated  Uncle 
Martin  badly.  I  suppose  you  have  not  heard  what  caused 
the  quarrel  ?  " 

"  No,"  I  answered,  "  and  in  all  probability  no  one  ever 
will.  It  is,  however,  an  old  one,  and  they  only  renewed  it 
in  Canada.  Uncle  Martin  says  little  about  his  injuries,  but 
he  doesn't  forget  them." 

This  was  but  the  beginning,  for  we  had  news  of 
further  developments  shortly,  when  Calvert  paid  us  a  second 
visit. 

"  I'm   going  home  to  England   for  a  holiday,"  he  said. 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE       329 

"  Secured  a  very  indifferent  post  in  Winnipeg,  and  was 
delighted  to  hear  of  another  mining  opening  in  British 
Columbia.  Now,  you'll  be  surprised,  too.  It  was  to  enter 
your  uncle's  service.  I  met  him  about  the  Day  Spring  some- 
times, and  he  apparently  took  rather  a  fancy  to  me,  while 
on  my  part  I  didn't  dislike  him." 

"  Martin  Lorimer  turned  mine-owner !  This  is  news," 
I  said,  and  Calvert  laughed. 

"  Yes,  and  of  the  Day  Spring,  too;  I'm  to  manage  it  in  his 
interest.  Now  you  see  the  method  in  his  madness.  It 
appears  that  the  Colonel  had  pretty  well  come  to  the  end  of 
his  tether  —  he  is  by  no  means  as  well  off  as  he  used  to  be 
—  and  in  his  customary  lordly  way  he  told  a  financial  agent 
to  get  from  any  one  whatever  he  could  over  a  fixed  limit.  It 
was,  as  a  matter  of  necessity,  a  low  limit.  I  warned  Mr. 
Lorimer  that  though  there  was  a  prospect  of  fair  milling 
ore  we  had  found  very  little  so  far,  but  he's  a  remarkably 
keen  old  fellow,  and  had  been  talking  to  the  miners, 
especially  the  unfortunate  one  who  had  been  holding  out 
against  the  Colonel's  attempts  to  squeeze  him  off  his  claim. 
Mr.  Lorimer  agreed  with  him  to  let  it  lapse  and  re-record 
it.  So  I  went  with  him  and  his  agent  to  sign  the  agree- 
ment, and  felt  half-ashamed  when  Colonel  Carrington  came 
in.  Of  course,  I  had  no  need  to.  He  always  treated  me 
with  a  contemptuous  indifference  that  was  galling,  and  a 
man  must  earn  his  bread.  Still,  I  had  taken  his  pay, 
and  it  hurt  me  to  see  him  beaten  down  upon  his  knees. 

"  He  came  near  starting  when  he  saw  your  uncle,  but 
made  no  sign  of  recognition,  as,  turning  to  his  broker,  he 
asked  in  his  usual  haughty  way,  '  Will  you  tell  me  what 
this  man's  business  is  ?  ' 

"  '  Mr.  Lorimer  takes  over  the  Day  Spring/  said  the 
agent,  and  I  fancy  the  ruler  of  Carrington  swore  softly 
between  his  teeth,  after  which  he  said :  '  You  told  me  it  was 


830       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Smithson  you  were  negotiating  with.     Is  there  any  means 
whatever  by  which  I  can  annul  the  bargain  ?  ' 

Smithson  bid  beneath  your  limit,  and  then  bought  it 
acting  as  broker  for  Mr.  Lorimer,'  was  the  answer.  '  I 
have  applied  for  a  record  of  conveyance,  and  the  sale  was 
made  by  your  orders.  It  cannot  be  canceled  now  without 
the  consent  of  the  purchaser,  and  a  new  record.' 

"  The  two  men  looked  at  each  other,  your  uncle 
drawing  down  his  thick  eyebrows,  which  is  a  trick  he  has, 
and  the  Colonel  gnawed  his  lip.  If  it  had  happened  in  the 
early  gold  days  there  would  have  been  pistol  shots.  Then 
my  new  employer  said,  '  I  will  not  sell,'  and  Colonel 
Carrington  flecked  off  a  speck  of  dust  with  his  gloves. 

"  *  You  have  bought  it  for  less  than  a  fourth  of  what  I 
spent  on  the  property/  he  said  very  coolly,  '  but  if  the 
mine  yields  as  it  has  done  hitherto  I  cannot  congratulate 
you,'  and  he  stalked  out  of  the  room.  He  was  hard  hit, 
but  he  went  down  the  stairway  as  unconcernedly  as  if  he 
had  not  come  to  the  end  of  a  fortune,  while  the  new  owner 
said  nothing  as  he  looked  after  him.  That's  about  all, 
except  that  the  Colonel  goes  back  to  Carrington,  and  my 
worthy  employer  to  Mexico.  He  told  me  he  had  word 
your  cousin  was  not  well  there.  I  wonder,  Ralph,  how  this 
matter  will  affect  you.  Your  relations  with  Miss  Carrington 
are  of  course  not  altogether  a  secret." 

I  did  not  enlighten  him.  In  fact,  I  hardly  cared  to  ask 
myself  the  question,  for  I  could  not  see  how  the  fact  that 
he  had  lost  a  considerable  portion  of  his  property  could 
increase  the  Colonel's  good-will  toward  me.  Nevertheless, 
if  the  difference  in  worldly  possessions  constituted  one  of 
the  main  obstacles,  as  he  had  said  it  did,  there  had  been  a 
partial  leveling,  and  if  we  were  favored  with  a  bounteous 
harvest  there  might  be  a  further  adjustment.  I  should  not 
have  chosen  the  former  method;  indeed,  I  regretted  it,  but 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE      331 

it  was  not  my  fault  that  he  had  quarreled  with  Martin 
Lorimer,  who  had  beaten  him  in  a  mining  deal.  The 
latter  could  be  hard  and  vindictive,  but  there  was  after  all 
a  depth  of  headstrong  good-nature  in  him  which  was 
signally  wanting  in  the  cold-blooded  Colonel.  I  disliked 
him  bitterly,  but  now  I  almost  pitied  him. 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  any  ore  worth  milling  in  the 
Day  Spring,  Calvert?"  I  asked  presently. 

"  Frankly,  I  do.  It  will  cost  further  money  to  bring  it 
up,  but  now  that  I  have  a  free  hand  and  unstinted  material 
I  am  even  sanguine.  We  start  in  earnest  in  two  months 
or  so,  and  then  we  will  see  —  what  we  shall  see." 

Calvert  left  us  the  next  day,  and  it  was  a  long  time  be- 
fore I  saw  any  more  of  him.  The  next  news  that  I  had 
was  that  Grace  and  Miss  Carrington  had  returned  to  Car- 
rington.  I  rode  over  to  see  them,  and  found  a  smaller  num- 
ber of  teams  plowing  than  there  should  have  been,  while  even 
Miss  Carrington,  who  received  me  without  any  token  of 
displeasure,  seemed  unusually  grave,  and  several  things  con- 
firmed the  impression  that  there  was  a  shadow  upon  the 
Manor.  I  could  ask  no  questions,  and  it  was  Grace  who 
explained  matters  as  I  stood  under  the  veranda  holding 
the  bridle  of  Ormond's  hunter. 

"  It's  a  strange  world,  Ralph,"  she  said  in  a  tone  of 
sadness.  "  Rupert,  as  you  will  notice,  knows  me  well,  and 
I  never  thought  that  one  time  you  would  ride  him.  Poor 
Geoffrey!  I  cannot  forget  him.  And  now  your  uncle  owns 
the  mine  my  father  hoped  so  much  from.  The  star  of  Fair- 
mead  is  in  the  ascendent  and  that  of  Carrington  grows 
dim." 

"  All  that  belongs  to  Fairmead  lies  at  your  feet,"  I  said. 
"  I  value  its  prosperity  only  for  your  sake,"  and  she  sighed 
as  she  answered: 

14 1  know,  but  it  is  hard  to  see  troubles  gathering  round 


332       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

one's  own  people,  though  I  am  glad  the  mine  has  gone.  It 
was  that  and  other  such  ventures  that  have  clouded  the 
brightness  there  used  to  be  in  Carrington.  Still,  Ralph," 
and  here  she  looked  at  me  fixedly,  "  I  am  a  daughter  of  the 
house,  and  if  I  knew  that  you  had  played  any  part  in  the 
events  which  have  brought  disaster  upon  it  I  should  never 
again  speak  to  you." 

I  could  well  believe  her,  for  she  had  inherited  a  portion 
of  her  father's  spirit,  and  I  knew  the  ring  in  her  voice,  but 
I  placed  one  arm  round  her  shoulder  as  I  answered :  "  You 
could  hardly  expect  me  to  like  him,  but  I  have  never  done 
him  or  any  man  a  wilful  injury,  and  until  the  sale  was 
completed  I  knew  nothing  about  it.  But  now,  sweetheart, 
how  much  longer  must  we  wait  and  wait?  Before  the 
wheat  is  yellow  Fairmead  will  be  ready  for  its  mistress, 
and  with  a  good  harvest  we  need  not  fear  the  future." 

"  You  must  trust  me  still  Ralph,"  she  said  wearily.  "  I 
am  troubled,  and  often  long  for  the  wisdom  to  decide  rightly 
what  I  ought  to  do,  but  when  I  feel  I  can  do  so  I  will 
come.  Twice  my  father  and  I  had  words  at  Vancouver, 
and  sometimes  I  blame  myself  bitterly  for  what  I  said. 
Wait  still  until  the  harvest;  perhaps  the  difficulties  may 
vanish  then.  Meanwhile,  because  I  am  Grace  Carrington, 
and  he  would  not  receive  you  if  he  were  here,  you  must 
come  no  more  to  the  Manor  while  my  father  is  away.  Be- 
sides, each  hour  is  precious  in  spring,  and  now  you  must 
spend  it  well  for  me." 

I  had  perforce  to  agree.  Grace  was  always  far  above  the 
petty  duplicity  which  even  some  excellent  women  delight  in, 
and  she  added  gently :  "  Some  day  you  will  be  glad,  Ralph, 
that  we  acted  in  all  things  openly;  but  a  fortnight  to- 
morrow I  intend  riding  to  Lone  Hollow,  from  which  I  re- 
turn at  noon.  Then,  as  a  reward  of  virtue,  you  may  meet 
me." 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE      333 

It  was  with  buoyant  spirits  that  I  rode  homeward  under 
the  starlight  across  the  wide,  dim  plain,  for  the  cool  air 
stirred  my  blood,  and  the  great  stillness  seemed  filled  with 
possibilities.  The  uncertainty  had  vanished,  the  time  was 
drawing  in,  and  something  whispered  that  before  another 
winter  draped  white  the  prairie  Grace  w^ould  redeem  her 
promise.  Counted  days  as  a  rule  pass  slowly,  but  that 
fortnight  fled,  for  there  was  little  opportunity  to  think  of 
anything  but  the  work  in  hand  in  the  hurry  of  the  spring 
campaign,  and  one  night  Raymond  Lyle,  of  Lone  Hollow, 
and  another  of  the  Carrington  colonists  spent  an  hour  with 
us.  Since  Aline  honored  Fairmead  with  her  presence  we 
had  frequent  visits  from  the  younger  among  them.  Aline 
was  generally  piquant,  and  these  visitors,  who,  even  if  a 
few  were  rather  feather-brained,  were  for  the  most  part 
honest  young  Englishmen,  seemed  to  find  much  pleasure  in 
her  company.  Lyle,  however,  wras  a  somewhat  silent  and 
thoughtful  man,  for  whom  I  had  a  great  liking,  and  he  had 
come  to  discuss  business. 

"  Listen  to  me,  Lorimer,  while  I  talk  at  length  for  once," 
he  said.  "  A  few  of  the  older  among  us  have  been  con- 
sidering things  lately,  and  it  doesn't  please  us  to  recognize 
that  while  nearly  every  outsider  can  make  money,  or  at 
least  earn  a  living  on  the  prairie,  farming  costs  most  of 
us  an  uncertain  sum  yearly.  We  are  by  no  means  all  mil- 
lionaires, and  our  idea  is  not  to  make  this  colony  a  pleasure 
ground  for  the  remittance-man.  We  have  the  brains,  the 
muscle,  and  some  command  of  money ;  we  were  born  of  land- 
owning stock;  and  we  don't  like  to  be  beaten  easily  by  the 
raw  mechanic,  the  laborer,  or  even  the  dismissed  clerk. 
Still,  while  these  farm  at  a  profit  we  farm  at  a  loss." 

"  I  belong  to  the  latter  class,"  I  said ;  "  and  here  are  a 
few  reasons.  We  are  plowing  and  grain-hauling  while  you 
shoot  prairie-chicken  or  follow  the  coyote  hounds.     We  work 


334       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

late  and  early,  eat  supper  in  dusty  garments,  and  then  go 
on  again;  while  you  take  your  hand  at  nap  after  a  formal 
dinner,  and  —  excuse  me  —  you  look  on  farming  as  an 
amusement,  while  the  land  demands  the  best  that  any 
man  can  give  it  —  brain  and  body.  Besides,  you  are  lacking 
in  what  one  might  call  commercial  enterprise." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  Lyle,  "  especially  the  latter. 
Anyway,  we  have  had  almost  sufficient  of  farming  as  a 
luxury,  and  mean  to  make  it  pay.  Colonel  Carrington's 
ideal  of  an  exclusive  semi-feudal  Utopia  is  very  pretty,  but 
I  fear  it  will  have  to  go.  Now  I'm  coming  to  the  point. 
You  and  Jasper  have  shown  us  the  way  to  make  something 
out  of  buying  young  Western  stock;  but  we're  going  one 
better.  Breeding  beef  is  only  one  item.  What  about  the 
dairy?  We  couldn't  well  drink  up  all  the  milk,  even  if  we 
liked  it;  and  we  have  definitely  decided  on  a  Carrington 
creamery,  with  a  Winnipeg  agency  for  our  cheese  and 
butter." 

"Bravo!"  said  Harry.  "Ralph,  that  should  pay  hand- 
somely. Only  one  rival  in  all  this  district!  I  see  big 
chances  in  it." 

Then  Raymond  chuckled  as  he  continued :  "  Specifica- 
tions have  been  got  out  for  a  wooden  building,  a  location 
chosen,  and,  in  short,  we  want  you  two  to  cut  the  timber 
and  undertake  the  erection.  We  want  a  man  we  know, 
Lorimer,  whom  we  can  discuss  things  with  in  a  friendly 
way.  It  can't  be  ready  this  summer,  and  you  can  take 
your  own  time  doing  it.  The  rest  say  they  should  pre- 
fer you  to  an  outsider;  and  your  railroad  building  is  a 
sufficient  guarantee." 

I  lighted  my  pipe  very  deliberately,  to  gain  time  to 
think.  Neither  Harry  nor  I  was  a  mechanic;  but  in  the 
Western  Dominion  the  man  without  money  must  turn  his 
hand    to  many  trades,   and  we   had  learned   a  good   deal, 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE      335 

railroad  building.  Neither  need  it  interfere  too  much  with 
the  farming,  for  we  could  hire  assistants,  even  if  we  brought 
them  from  Ontario;  and  here  was  another  opening  to 
increase  our  revenue. 

"  Subject  to  approved  terms,  we'll  take  it  —  eh,  Harry?  — 
on  the  one  condition  that  Colonel  Carrington  does  not 
specifically  object  to  me,"  I  said.     "  Where  is  the  site?  " 

"  Green  Mountain,"  answered  Raymond  Lyle.  "  As  to 
terms,  look  over  the  papers  and  send  in  an  estimate.  Pay- 
ments, two-thirds  cash,  interim  and  on  completion,  and  the 
balance  in  shares  at  your  option.  Several  leading  business 
men  in  Brandon  and  Winnipeg  have  applied  for  stock." 

"  Green  Mountain!  "  broke  in  Harry.  "  That's  the  Col- 
onel's private  property  and  pet  preserve.  Coyote,  even  tim- 
ber wolves,  antelope  and  other  deer  haunt  it,  don't  they? 
He  will  never  give  you  permission  to  plant  a  creamery  there. 
Besides,  I  hardly  fancy  that  any  part  of  the  scheme  will 
commend  itself  to  him." 

Lyle  looked  thoughtful.  "  I  anticipate  trouble  with  him," 
he  said.  "  Indeed,  the  trouble  has  commenced  already. 
But,  with  all  due  respect  to  Colonel  Carrington,  we  intend 
to  have  the  creamery.  He  came  home  yesterday,  and  rides 
over  to  see  Willmot  about  it  to-morrow." 

When  he  had  gone  Harry  laughed  with  evident  enjoy- 
ment of  something. 

"  The  fat  will  be  in  the  fire  with  a  vengeance  now,"  he 
said,  "  I  didn't  give  them  credit  for  having  so  much  sense. 
It's  one  thing  to  speculate  and  run  gold  mines  that  don't 
pay  in  British  Columbia,  but  quite  another  to  turn  one's 
pet  and  most  exclusive  territory  into  '  a  condemned,  divi- 
dend-earning, low-caste,  industrial  settlement,  by  Gad,  sir !  ' 
Cut  down  the  Green  Mountain  bluff,  smoke  out  beast  and 
bird,  plant  a  workman's  colony  down  in  Carrington !  Turn 
the  ideal  Utopia  into  a  common,  ordinary  creamery!  —  and 


336      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

you  will  notice  they  mean  to  make  it  pay.  The  sun  would 
stand  still  sooner  than  the  Colonel  consent." 

I  was  inclined  to  agree  with  Harry,  but  I  also  felt  that 
if  it  were  impossible  to  lessen  Colonel  Carrington's  opposi- 
tion to  myself  there  was  no  use  making  further  sacrifices 
hopelessly.  Even  his  own  people  had  shown  signs  of  revolt, 
and  Grace's  long  patience  appeared  exhausted.  There  are 
limits  beyond  which  respectful  obedience  degenerates  into 
weakness,  and  the  ruler  of  Carrington  had  reached  them. 

I  met  Grace  at  the  time  appointed,  and  her  look  of 
concern  increased  when  I  mentioned  the  creamery. 

"  I  am  afraid  it  will  lead  to  strife,  and  I  am  sorry  that 
you  are  connected  with  it,"  she  said.  "  My  father,  though 
I  do  not  altogether  agree  with  him,  has  a  very  strong  ob- 
jection to  the  project,  while  even  his  best  friends  appear  de- 
termined upon  it.  It  may  even  mean  the  breaking  up  of  the 
Carrington  colony.  Since  the  last  check  at  Vancouver  he  has 
been  subject  to  fits  of  suppressed  excitement,  and  my  aunt 
dare  scarcely  approach  him.  Ralph,  from  every  side  disaster 
seems  closing  in  upon  us,  and  I  almost  fear  to  think  what 
the  end  will  be.  It  is  my  one  comfort  to  know  that  you 
are  near  me  and  faithful." 

Her  eyes  were  hazy  as  she  looked  past  me  across  the 
prairie.  Starry  flowers  spangled  the  sod,  the  grass  was 
flushed  with  emerald,  while  the  tender  green  of  a  willow 
copse  formed  a  background  for  her  lissom  figure  as  she 
leaned  forward  to  stroke  the  neck  of  the  big  gray  horse, 
which  pawed  at  the  elastic  turf.  There  was  bright  sun- 
shine above  us,  dimming  even  the  sweep  of  azure,  and  a 
glorious  rush  of  breeze.  All  spoke  of  life  and  courage,  and 
I  strove  to  cheer  her,  until  a  horseman  swept  into  sight 
across  a  rise,  and  my  teeth  closed  together  when  I  recog- 
nized the  ruler  of  Carrington.  He  rode  at  a  gallop,  and  his 
course  would  lead  him  well  clear  of  where  we  stood,  while 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE      837 

by  drawing  back  a  few  yards  the  willows  would  have  hidden 
us.  But  I  was  in  no  mood  to  avoid  him,  even  had  Grace 
been  so  inclined,  which  was  not  the  case;  and  so  we  waited 
until,  turning,  he  came  on  at  a  breakneck  pace.  The 
black  horse  was  gray  with  dust  and  lather  when  he  reined 
him  in,  spattering  the  spume  flakes  upon  me.  After  a  stiff 
salutation,   I  looked  at  the  Colonel  steadily. 

"  You  are  an  obstinate  and  very  ill-advised  young  man, 
Lorimer  of  Fairmead,,,  he  said,  making  an  evident  effort  to 
restrain  his  fury  —  at  which  I  took  courage,  for  it  was  his 
cold  malevolence  that  I  disliked  most.  "  Grace,  you  shall 
hear  now  once  and  for  all  what  I  tell  him.  Lorimer,  you 
shall  never  marry  Miss  Carrington  with  my  Consent." 

It  may  not  have  been  judicious,  but  I  was  seldom 
successful  in  choosing  words,  and  expected  nothing  but  his 
strongest  opposition,  so  I  answered  stoutly,  "  I  trust  that  you 
will  even  yet  grant  it,  sir.  If  not  —  and  Miss  Carrington 
is  of  age  —  wTe  must  endeavor  to  do  without  it." 

He  turned  from  me,  striking  the  impatient  horse,  and 
when  the  beast  stood  fast,  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  his  daughter. 

"  Have  you  lost  your  reason  as  well  as  all  sense  of  duty, 
Grace  ?  "  he  stormed.  "  What  is  this  beggarly  farmer,  the 
nephew  of  my  bitterest  enemy,  that  you  should  give  up  so 
much  for  him?  Have  you  counted  the  cost  —  hardship, 
degrading  drudgery,  and  your  father's  displeasure?  And 
would  you  choose  these  instead  of  your  natural  position  as 
mistress  of  Carrington  ?  " 

"  While  I  have  strength  to  work  for  her  she  shall  suffer 
none  of  them,"  I  said.  But  neither,  apparently,  heeded  me, 
and,  rapidly  growing  fiercer,  the  old  man  added : 

"  There  will  be  no  half-measures  —  you  must  make  the 
choice.  As  that  man's  wife  you  will  never  enter  the  doors 
of  the  Manor.  Remember  who  you  are,  girl,  and  shake  off 
this  foolishness." 


838      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

His  mood  changed  in  an  instant.  Colonel  Carrington 
was  clearly  not  himself  that  day,  for  there  was  an  almost 
pleading  tone  in  the  concluding  words,  and  he  awaited  her 
answer  in  a  state  of  tense  anxiety,  while  I  could  see  that 
Grace  was  trembling. 

"  It  is  too  late,  father.  The  choice  is  already  made,"  she 
said.  "  There  are  worse  things  than  poverty,  and  if  it  comes 
we  can  bear  it  together.  We  hope  you  will  still  yield  your 
consent,  even  though  we  wait  long  for  it,  and  had  you  asked 
anything  but  this  I  should  have  done  it.  Now  I  have 
given  my  promise  —  and  I  do  not  wish  to  break  it." 

Her  voice  was  strained  and  uneven,  and  with  a  thrill  of 
pride,  leaning  sideways  from  the  saddle,  I  caught  her  horse's 
bridle  as  by  right  of  ownership.  However,  in  spite  of  his 
enmity,  I  was  sorry  for  Colonel  Carrington.  It  must  have 
been  a  trying  moment,  for  he  loved  his  daughter,  but 
wounded  pride  gained  the  mastery,  and  his  face  grew  livid. 
I  made  some  protestation  that  we  both  regretted  his  dis- 
pleasure, and  that  Grace  should  want  nothing  which  I  could 
give  her,  but  again  he  utterly  ignored  me,  and,  wrenching 
on  the  curb,  backed  the  horse  a  few  paces.  Then,  and  I 
shall  never  forget  the  bitterness  of  his  tone,  he  said : 

"  First  those  fools  in  British  Columbia,  then  the  men  I 
settled  in  Carrington,  and  now  my  child  to  turn  against  me 
in  my  adversity.  You  have  made  your  choice,  girl,  and  you 
will  rue  it.     I  will  humble  you  all  before  I  die." 

He  caught  at  his  breath,  his  face  twitched,  and  his  left 
hand  sank  to  his  side,  but  he  wheeled  the  black  horse  with 
his  right  and  left  us  without  another  word,  while  Grace 
sat  looking  after  him  with  a  white  face  and  tears  in  her 
eyes. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  what  this  has  cost  me,  Ralph,"  she 
said.  "  No,  you  must  not  say  anything  just  now.  Give 
me  time  to  think;  I  can  hardly  bear  it." 


CONCERNING  THE  DAY  SPRING  MINE      339 

We  did  not  resume  our  journey  immediately,  and  when 
we  passed  the  next  rise  Colonel  Carrington  was  far  off  on 
the  prairie. 

"  We  will  wait  until  harvest,"  Grace  said,  in  reply  to 
my  questions.     "  There  will,  I  fear,  be  changes  by  then.', 

Half  an  hour  later  we  rode  into  sight  of  Carrington,  and 
both  instinctively  drew  rein;  then  Grace  signified  approval 
as  without  speaking  we  rode  on  again.  Still  her  faint  smile 
showed  that  she  recognized  my  own  feeling  that  we  were 
riding  boldly  into  the  camp  of  the  enemy.  Miss  Carrington 
met  us  at  the  entrance,  and  when  I  dismounted  said  to  me 
aside : 

"  My  brother  came  in  a  little  while  since  in  an  angry 
mood.  I  fancy  he  must  have  met  you,  and  will  not  ask 
injudicious  questions;  but,  to  please  me,  you  will  go.  He 
has  been  broken  in  health  lately,  and  any  further  excitement 
is  to  be  avoided  just  now." 

I  took  my  leave  accordingly,  for  as  far  as  she  could  do 
so  without  offending  her  brother  Miss  Carrington  sym- 
pathized with  us,  and  as  I  rode  back  to  Fairmead  I  could 
not  forget  the  Colonel's  curious  manner  when  he  concluded 
the  interview.  I  also  recollected  how  Calvert  had  said: 
"  That  man  will  end  with  a  stroke,  or  in  a  fit,  when  he 
lets  his  passion  master  him  some  day." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

CARRINGTON    ASSERTS   HIS   AUTHORITY 

A    WEEK  or  two  passed,  and  then  when  riding  to  Lone 

Hollow    on    business    connected    wTith    the    creamery 

scheme  I  chanced  upon  Jasper.     I  had  seen  very  little  of  him 

since    Harry    returned,    and    taxed    him    with    it,    saying: 

"Have  we  frightened  you  away  from  Fairmead  lately?" 

"  No,"  he  answered,  with  some  confusion.  "  I  guess 
there's  no  place  in  the  Dominion  where  I  should  sooner  go." 

"Well,  then,  why  don't  you  come?"  I  asked;  and  the 
big  man  hesitated  still,  inspecting  his  boots,  until,  facing 
round  toward  me,  he  said :  "  I've  been  figuring  it  mightn't 
be  good  for  me.  I'm  a  plain  man  with  a  liking  for  straight 
talk,  Ralph  —  so  are  you  —  and  it  might  make  things  easier 
if  I  were  to  tell  you.     It's  Miss  Aline  that  scared  me." 

I  burst  out  laughing,  but  Jasper  did  not  join;  then  I 
waited  somewhat  astonished  until  he  continued :  "  She's 
the  flower  of  this  prairie,  and  she's  got  a  mighty  cute  head 
of  her  own.  I  never  could  stand  them  foolish  women.  So 
I  came,  and  I  would  have  come  every  day,  until  Harry 
chipped  in,  and  that  set  me  thinking.  I  said,  '  You  stop 
there  and  consider,  Jasper,  before  it's  too  late,  and  you're 
done  for.'  " 

I  frowned  at  this,  but  Jasper  added :  "  You  don't  get 
hold  exactly  —  what  I  meant  was  this:  I'm  a  big  rough 
farmer,  knowing  the  ways  of  wheat  and  the  prairie,  and 
knowing  nothing  else.  She's  wise,  and  good,  and  pretty, 
way  up  as  high  as  the  blue  heaven  above  me.  Even  if  she'd 
340 


CARRINGTON  ASSERTS  AUTHORITY     341 

take  me  —  which,  being  wise,  she  wouldn't  —  the  deal 
wouldn't  be  fair  to  her.  No;  it  couldn't  anyway  be  fair  to 
her.  Then  I  saw  Harry  with  his  clever  talk  and  pretty 
ways,  and  I  said,  '  That's  the  kind  of  man  that  must  mate 
with  her.  Go  home  to  your  plowing,  Jasper,  before  it  be- 
comes harder,  and  you  make  a  most  interesting  fool  of 
yourself.'  So  I  went  home,  and  I'm  going  to  stop  there, 
Ralph  Lorimer,  until  the  right  man  comes  along.  Then  — 
well,  I'll  wish  Miss  Aline  the  happiness  I  could  never  have 
given  her." 

"  You  are  a  very  good  fellow,  Jasper,"  I  said,  and  pitied 
my  old  friend  as  he  departed  ruefully.  He  had  acted  gen- 
erously, and  though  I  hardly  fancy  Aline  would  have  ac- 
cepted him,  in  any  case,  I  knew  that  she  might  have  chosen 
worse.  There  are  qualities  which  count  for  more  than  the 
graces  of  polish  and  education,  especially  in  new  lands,  but 
Harry  possessed  these  equally,  and,  as  Jasper  had  said,  Aline 
and  he  had  much  more  in  common.  Then  it  also  occurred 
to  me  that  there  was  some  excuse  for  Colonel  Carring- 
ton.  The  cases  were  almost  parallel,  and  to  use  my  friend's 
simile  Grace  Carrington  was  also  as  high  as  the  blue  heavens 
above  her  accepted  lover.  Still,  if  I  had  not  the  Ontario 
man's  power  of  self-abnegation,  and  had  forgotten  what  was 
due  to  her,  she  had  said  with  her  own  lips  that  she  could  be 
happy  with  me,  and  I  blessed  her  for  it. 

What  transpired  at  Lone  Hollow  also  provided  food  for 
thought.  Lyle  and  several  of  the  supporters  of  the  cream- 
ery scheme  awaited  me  there. 

"  We  have  practically  decided  to  accept  your  estimates," 
Lyle  said,  "  but  it  seems  advisable  to  make  one  or  two  al- 
terations, and  we  want  you  to  ride  over  with  us  to  Green 
Mountain  to-morrow  and  make  a  survey  of  a  fresh  site  that 
one  of  the  others  seems  to  think  favorable.  After  we  decide 
on  a  place  for  the  buildings,  and  a  few  other  details,  we'll 


342       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

ask  you  to  attend  a  meeting  which  we  expect  to  hold  at  the 
Manor.  The  matter  will  have  to  be  discussed  with  Colonel 
Carrington." 

"  Then  I  should  sooner  you  excuse  me.  I'm  afraid  that 
my  presence  might  prejudice  the  Colonel,"  I  replied,  and 
several  of  the  others  laughed. 

"  He's  prejudiced  already,"  said  one.  "  Still,  we  are 
growing  rather  tired  of  the  Colonel's  opposition  to  whatever 
he  does  not  suggest  himself,  and  we  mean  to  build  the 
creamery.  You  will  have  to  face  your  share  of  the  un- 
pleasantness with  the  rest  of  us." 

I  almost  regretted  that  I  had  furnished  the  estimates, 
but  it  was  too  late  and  I  could  not  very  well  draw  back 
now;  so,  promising  to  attend,  I  returned  to  Fairmead  in 
a  thoughtful  mood.  Aline  bantered  me  about  my  absent- 
mindedness,  and  desired  to  learn  the  cause  of  it,  but  as  Harry 
was  there  and  it  partly  concerned  Jasper's  explanation  I 
did  not  enlighten  her.  Strange  to  say,  I  had  never  pictured 
Harry  as  a  suitor  for  my  sister,  but  now  I  could  see  only 
advantages  in  the  union  for  both  of  them,  and,  what  was 
perhaps  as  much  to  the  purpose,  advantages  for  me.  I  ex- 
pected to  bring  Grace  to  Fairmead  sooner  or  later,  and 
she  and  Aline  were,  I  felt,  too  much  alike  in  one  or  two 
respects  to  agree. 

On  the  following  day  I  rode  over  to  Green  Mountain 
writh  Lyle  and  three  or  four  of  his  friends.  We  had  a 
measuring  chain  with  us  as  well  as  one  or  two  instruments 
that  I  had  learned  how  to  use  when  railroad  building,  and 
it  was  afternoon  when  we  got  to  work  plotting  out  the 
alternative  site  for  the  creamery  that  one  of  the  others  had 
considered  more  favorable  on  account  of  its  convenience  to 
running  water.  The  term  Mountain  is  used  somewhat 
vaguely  on  the  prairie,  and  Green  Mountain  could  scarcely  be 
called  a  hill.     It  was  a  plateau  of  no  great  height  dotted  with 


CARRINGTON  ASSERTS  AUTHORITY     343 

a  dense  growth  of  birches  and  seamed  by  ravines  out  of  one 
of  which  a  creek  that  would  supply  the  creamery  with  power 
came  swirling. 

We  alighted  on  the  birch  bluff  that  stretched  out  some 
distance  into  the  prairie  from  the  foot  of  the  plateau,  and 
spent  an  hour  or  so  before  we  decided  that  the  new  site  was 
more  favorable  than  the  other.     Then  Lyle  turned  to  me. 

"  Hadn't  we  better  run  our  line  through  and  mark  it  off 
now  that  we're  here  ?  "  he  suggested. 

I  agreed,  and  as  one  of  the  men  had  brought  two  or 
three  saws  and  axes  in  a  wagon  we  set  about  it.  The  men 
from  Carrington,  however,  were  not  very  proficient  at  the 
work  and  a  good  deal  of  the  chopping  fell  to  me.  The 
bush  was  rather  thick,  and  I  spent  an  hour  in  tolerably  ar- 
duous labor  before  our  base  line  was  clear.  Then  I  sat  down 
on  a  slender  fallen  birch  while  Lyle  and  the  rest  went  back 
to  the  wagon  for  some  provisions  they  had  brought.  It  was 
evident  that  wTe  could  not  get  home  for  supper.        * 

It  was  a  still  afternoon,  and  the  sound  of  the  creek  rang 
across  the  shadowy  birches  with  an  almost  startling  dis- 
tinctness. That  end  of  the  line  had,  however,  nearly 
reached  the  verge  of  the  prairie.  Presently  another  sound 
that  rapidly  grew  louder  reached  my  ears.  It  was  the  rhyth- 
mic beat  of  approaching  hoofs,  and  for  no  very  definite  reason 
it  brought  me  a  trace  of  uneasiness.  However,  I  sat  still 
with  my  pipe  in  my  hand  until  the  drumming  of  hoofs  that 
grew  very  close  stopped  suddenly,  and  then  turning  sharply 
I  saw  Colonel  Carrington  striding  through  the  bush.  He 
stopped  near  my  side,  and  nobody  would  have  supposed  from 
his  appearance  that  the  sight  of  me  or  the  fallen  trees  af- 
forded him  any  pleasure. 

Three  or  four  slender  birches  lay  close  at  my  feet,  and 
here  and  there  another  was  stretched  across  the  line  I  had 
driven.     Carrington's    face    grew    hard,    and    a   little   por- 


344       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

tentous  sparkle  crept  into  his  eyes  as  he  looked  at  them. 
Then  he  turned  to  me. 

14  Mr.  Lorimer,"  he  said,  44  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  ex- 
plain why  you  are  cutting  my  timber  without  permission  ?  " 

44 1  have  done  it  at  Mr.  Lyle's  request,  sir,"  I  said. 

Now  I  do  not  know  how  Carrington  had  heard  of  what 
was  going  on,  but  his  answer  made  it  evident  that  he  had. 

44  Ah,  I  had  partly  expected  this.  Will  you  tell  Lyle  that 
I  want  him  at  once !  " 

It  was  not  a  request  but  a  command  flung  at  me  with  a 
curt  incisiveness  that  brought  the  blood  to  my  face,  and  I 
was  never  quite  sure  afterward  why  I  went.  Still,  it  was 
usually  difficult  for  even  those  who  disliked  him  most  to 
disobey  Colonel  Carrington.  In  any  case,  I  found  Lyle  and 
the  others,  and  came  back  with  them  outside  the  bluff  which 
was  the  easier  way.  Carrington,  however,  had  evidently 
grown  impatient,  and  I  saw  Lyle's  lips  set  tight  when  he 
and  three  or  four  of  the  younger  men  who  I  heard  afterward 
were  rather  indebted  to  the  Colonel  rode  out  from  the  shadow 
of  the  bluff.  One  of  my  companions  smiled  expressively,  but 
nothing  was  said  until  Carrington  drew  bridle  a  few  yards 
away.  He  sat  impassively  still  with  one  hand  on  his  hip 
and  a  handful  of  young  lads  behind  him,  and  there  was  si- 
lence for  a  few  moments  while  the  two  parties  looked  at  each 
other.  It  was  not  exactly  my  quarrel,  but  I  could  feel  the 
tension. 

Lyle  stood  close  beside  me  quietly  resolute,  but  one  or 
two  of  his  comrades  looked  half-ashamed  and  as  though 
they  wished  themselves  anywhere  else,  while  the  lads  who 
rode  with  Carrington  were  manifestly  uneasy.  Still,  the 
grim,  erect  figure  sitting  almost  statuesque  on  the  splendid 
horse  dominated  the  picture.  At  length  Carrington  indi- 
cated me  with  a  glance  which,  though  I  was  ashamed  of 
the  fact  afterward,  made  me  wince. 


CARRINGTON  ASSERTS  AUTHORITY     345 

"  This  man  tells  me  that  it  is  by  your  authority  he  is 
cutting  down  my  timber,"  he  said. 

"  He  is  quite  correct  in  that,  sir,"  answered  Lyle. 

11  Ah,"  said  Carrington,  and  his  voice  was  very  sharp, 
"  you  did  not  consider  it  necessary  to  ask  my  sanction?  " 

Lyle  looked  at  his  companions,  and  it  was  evident  that 
they  realized  that  the  time  for  decisive  action  had  come.  The 
Colonel  clearly  meant  to  assert  his  authority,  and  I  fancied 
that  he  would  not  hesitate  to  overstep  it  if  this  appeared  ad- 
visable. He  had,  however,  ridden  them  on  the  curb  too  long, 
and  his  followers'  patience  wTas  almost  at  an  end.  Still,  it 
requires  a  good  deal  of  courage  suddenly  to  fling  off  a 
yoke  to  which  one  has  grown  accustomed,  and  I  sometimes 
think  that  if  Carrington  had  been  a  trifle  less  imperious 
and  Lyle  had  not  stood  fast  then  his  companions  once  more 
would  have  deferred  to  their  ruler  and  the  revolt  would 
never  have  been  made.  Perhaps  Lyle  recognized  this  for 
his  answer  seemed  intended  to  force  the  matter  to  an  issue. 

"  We  were  afraid  it  would  be  withheld,  sir,"  he  said. 

Carrington  understood  him,  for  I  saw  the  blood  creep 
into  his  face.     "  So  you  decided  to  dispense  with  it?  " 

"  I  should  have  preferred  to  put  it  another  way,  but  it 
amounts  to  that,"  said  Lyle,  and  there  was  a  murmur  of 
concurrence  from  the  rest  which  showed  that  their  blood 
was  up. 

"  Then  you  may  understand  that  it  is  refused  once  for 
all,"  said  Carrington.  "  I  will  not  have  another  birch  felled 
on  Green  Mountain.  Now  that  you  know  my  views  there 
is  an  end  of  it." 

He  was  wrong  in  this.  The  end  which  I  think  must  have 
proved  very  different  from  what  he  could  have  expected 
had  not  yet  come.  He  had  taken  the  wrong  way,  for  those 
whom  he  addressed  were  like  himself  mettlesome  English- 
men of  the  ruling  caste,  and  while  they  had  long  paid  him 


346       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

due  respect  they  were  not  to  be  trampled  on.  They  stood 
fast,  and  losing  his  temper  he  turned  to  them  in  a  sudden 
outbreak  of  fury. 

"Why  don't  you  go?"  he  thundered,  and  pointed  to  the 
saws  and  axes.     "  Take  those  —  things  along  with  you." 

None  of  them  moved  except  Lyle  who  stepped  forward  a 
pace  or  two. 

"  There  is  a  little  more  to  be  said,  sir.  You  have  refused 
your  sanction,  but  bearing  in  mind  a  clause  or  two  in  the 
charter  of  the  settlement  I'm  not  quite  sure  it's  necessary. 
In  one  sense  Green  Mountain  is  not  exactly  yours." 

"Not  mine!"  and  Carrington  stared  at  him  in  incredu- 
lous astonishment.  Then  he  seemed  to  recover  himself  and 
smiled  in  an  unpleasant  fashion.  "  Ah,"  he  said,  "  you  have 
been  reading  the  charter,  but  there  are  several  points  that 
evidently  you  have  missed.  For  one  thing,  it  vests  prac- 
tically complete  authority  in  me,  and  my  decision  as  to  any 
changes  or  the  disposal  of  any  of  the  Carrington  land  can 
only  be  questioned  by  a  three-fourths  majority  of  a  general 
assembly.  I  have  not  heard  that  you  have  submitted  the 
matter  to  such  a  meeting." 

"  I  have  not  done  so,  sir,"  answered  Lyle. 

There  was,  I  thought,  still  a  faint  chance  of  a  compromise, 
but  Carrington  flung  it  away. 

"  Then,"  he  said,  "  I  choose  to  exert  my  authority,  and  I 
think  that  I  have  already  told  you  to  leave  Green  Moun- 
tain." 

Lyle  apparently  recognized  that  the  Colonel  had  the 
best  of  it  on  what  one  might  call  a  point  of  law,  but  the 
way  the  latter  used  the  word  "  told  "  would,  I  think,  have 
stirred  most  men  to  resistance.  It  was  far  more  expressive 
than  if  he  had  said  commanded.  Lyle  stood  quite  still  a 
moment  or  two  looking  at  the  Colonel  with  wrinkled  brows, 


CARRINGTON  ASSERTS  AUTHORITY     347 

"  If  you  will  listen  to  me  for  a  few  minutes,  sir,"  he  said 
at  length. 

"  No!  "  interrupted  Carrington.  "  It  would  be  a  waste 
of  time.  You  know  my  views.  There  is  nothing  more  to  be 
said." 

Then  he  committed  the  crowning  act  of  folly  as  tighten- 
ing his  grasp  on  his  bridle  he  turned  to  the  lads  behind 
him. 

"  Drive  them  off!  "  he  said. 

The  half-contemptuous  command  was  almost  insufferably 
galling.  Carrington  might  have  been  dealing  with  mutinous 
dusky  troopers  instead  of  free  Englishmen  who  farmed  their 
own  land,  and  the  lads  who  had  at  first  appeared  disposed 
to  side  with  him  hesitated.  He  swung  around  in  the  saddle 
and  looked  at  them. 

"  Must  I  speak  twice?  "  he  asked. 

He  turned  again  raising  the  heavy  riding  crop  he  carried, 
and  I  expected  to  see  the  big  horse  driven  straight  at  Lyle, 
but  one  of  the  lads  seized  his  leader's  bridle  just  in  time. 

"  Hold  on,  sir,"  he  cried,  and  then  while  the  big  horse 
plunged  he  flung  a  few  words  at  my  companion. 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  Raymond.  Get  out  of  this  —  now!" 
he  cried. 

Lyle's  face  was  darkly  flushed,  and  it  appeared  to  cost  him 
an  effort  to  hold  himself  in  hand. 

"  We're  going,  sir,"  he  said.     "  Loose  his  bridle,  Charley." 

The  lad  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  Lyle  motioned  us  to 
withdraw,  after  which  he  once  more  addressed  Carrington. 

"  You  have  refused  us  permission  to  touch  this  timber, 
and  I  suppose  we  must  yield  to  your  wishes  in  this  respect," 
he  said.  "  I'm  afraid  it's  more  than  likely,  too,  that  you 
will  object  to  our  putting  up  the  buildings  we  have  in  mind 
anywhere  about  Carrington  ?  " 


348       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Your  surmises  are  perfectly  correct,"  replied  the  Col- 
onel. 

"  Well,"  said  Lyle,  "  according  to  the  charter  we  can  over- 
rule your  objections  by  a  three-fourths  majority,  and  I  have 
to  give  you  notice  that  I'm  going  to  call  a  meeting  on 
Thursday  next  to  consider  the  matter.  We  have  generally 
met  at  the  Manor  to  discuss  anything  of  interest." 

Carrington  who  appeared  to  have  recovered  his  composure 
raised  his  hand  in  sign  of  dismissal. 

"  Any  time  you  wish  in  the  evening  —  say  six  o'clock," 
he  said. 

We  turned  away  and  left  him,  but  it  seemed  to  me  from 
his  manner  that  he  would  not  have  agreed  to  the  meeting  so 
readily  had  he  not  been  certain  that  it  would  cost  him  very 
little  trouble  to  humiliate  the  men  who  called  it.  Lyle  ap- 
peared very  thoughtful  as  we  rode  away. 

"  I'm  sorry  all  this  has  happened,  but  it  was  bound  to 
come,"  he  said  to  one  of  his  companions.  "  I  may  not  have 
been  particularly  tactful,  but,  after  all,  unless  I'd  given  way 
altogether  I  don't  see  that  I  could  have  handled  the  matter 
in  any  very  different  way." 

The  man  who  rode  beside  him  laughed  somewhat  ruefully. 
"  No,"  he  admitted,  "  you  simply  can't  discuss  a  point  with 
the  Colonel.  I'm  rather  afraid  the  thing's  going  to  hurt  a 
good  many  of  us,  and  it  may  result  in  breaking  up  the  settle- 
ment, but  the  fat's  in  the  fire  now,  and  we  must  stand  fast." 
He  broke  off  for  a  moment  with  a  sigh.  "If  he  only 
weren't  so  sickeningly  obstinate!  It's  an  abominably  un- 
pleasant situation." 

I  could  understand  how  the  speaker  shrank  from  the  task 
in  front  of  him.  For  years  he  and  the  others  had  ren- 
dered their  leader  unquestioning  obedience,  and  the  Colonel 
hitherto  had  ruled  the  settlement  more  or  less  in  accordance 
with  their  wishes,  though  I  fancy  that  this  was  due  to  the 


CARRINGTON  ASSERTS  AUTHORITY     349 

fact  that  their  views  had  generally  coincided  and  not  to 
any  willingness  to  defer  to  them.  It  was,  perhaps,  not  un- 
natural that  most  of  them  should  look  coldly  on  innovations 
and  hold  by  traditions, .  for  Englishmen  are  proverbially 
averse  to  change.  Still,  they  could  recognize  when  a  change 
was  absolutely  necessary,  and  setting  aside  their  predilec- 
tions and  prejudices  insist  on  it.  I,  however,  had  less  of  the 
latter,  since  my  status  was  not  theirs,  and  it  seemed  to  me 
that  the  man  who  would  be  most  hurt  was  Colonel  Carring- 
ton. 

There  was  no  doubt  that  he  had  the  gift  of  command. 
Some  men  are  unmistakably  endued  with  it,  and  as  a  rule 
everybody  defers  to  them  even  when  they  do  not  use  it 
wisely.  They  come  to  regard  it  as  their  right,  and  by  pre- 
suming on  the  good-nature  or  supineness  of  those  with  whom 
they  come  into  contact,  until  at  length  the  exception  to  the 
rule  appears.  Then  being  boldly  faced  they  prove  to  be 
very  much  like  other  men.  The  air  of  authority  disappears, 
and  everybody  wonders  why  he  allowed  himself  to  be  over- 
awed so  long. 

Still,  I  sympathized  with  Lyle  who  rode  slackly,  as  it 
were,  gazing  straight  in  front  of  him  with  thoughtful  eyes. 
There  was  no  doubt  that  what  he  meant  to  do  was  re- 
pugnant to  him,  especially  as  the  Colonel  was  a  distant  kins- 
man of  his.  He  was  a  quiet,  honest,  good-humored  Eng- 
lishman, but  men  of  that  kind  now  and  then  prove  very 
grim  adversaries  when  they  are  pushed  too  hard,  and  they 
stand  for  what  they  consider  the  interest  of  their  fellows. 
Nothing  further  was  said  until  we  reached  the  spot  where  the 
trail  to  Fairmead  branched  off,  and  then  Lyle  turned  to  me. 

"  I'll  expect  you  at  the  Manor  on  Thursday,"  he  said. 

Then  they  rode  on  to  Carrington,  and  I  turned  off  toward 
Fairmead. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

THE    DEPOSED    RULER 

TpHE  day  of  the  meeting  was  never  forgotten  at  Carring- 
ton,  and  distorted  rumors  of  what  had  happened  there 
traveled  far  across  the  prairie.  One  Mennonite  settler 
compared  it  to  the  downfall  of  King  Herod,  but  among 
Carrington's  own  people  there  were  none  who  referred  to 
the  events  of  that  evening  without  reluctance  and  regret. 

It  was  a  glorious  afternoon  when  I  set  out,  and  the  prairie 
was  fresh  and  green  after  a  gentle  rain  that  promised  an 
early  sprouting  of  the  seed,  but  as  I  neared  the  Manor  the 
faces  of  those  I  met  were  anxious  and  somber.  They  looked 
like  men  who  after  mature  consideration  had  undertaken  an 
unpleasant  duty,  and  I  could  not  help  a  fancy  that  some  of 
them  wished  themselves  well  out  of  it.  Saddled  horses, 
buggies,  and  wagons  stood  in  front  of  the  house,  and  fur- 
ther mounted  figures  w^ere  approaching  across  the  prairie, 
but  the  men  who  had  already  arrived  seemed  more  inclined 
to  wait  for  them  than  to  enter  the  building,  until  its  owner 
stood  in  the  doorway.  He  looked  at  them  with  a  little  grim 
smile. 

"  It  is  not  the  first  time  you  have  been  here,  and  this 
difference  appears  a  little  unusual,"  he  said.  "  Won't  you 
come  in  ?  " 

I  went  in  with  the  others,  and  was  not  pleased  when 
Lyle  placed  me  beside  himself  in  a  prominent  position.  In- 
deed, after  a  desultory  conversation  during  which  no  one 
seemed  quite  at  ease  it  was  a  relief  to  hear  the  last  arrivals 

350 


THE  DEPOSED  RULER  351 

dismount  and  then  to  take  our  places  at  the  long  table  upon 
which  Lyle  had  deposited  plans  of  the  settlement.  He  with  a 
few  others  of  what  was  evidently  the  executive  committee 
sat  near  me,  and  the  rest  stretched  back  toward  the  doorway. 
As  we  waited  a  few  moments  in  a  state  of  tense  expectation 
the  details  of  the  scene  impressed  themselves  on  my  memory. 

There  were  heads  and  skins,  as  well  as  Eastern  weapons 
—  trophies  the  Colonel  had  brought  home  from  several  of 
England's  smaller  wars  —  on  the  cedar  wainscot.  The  prai- 
rie was  flooded  with  sunlight  outside,  and  an  invigorating 
breeze  that  flowed  in  through  the  open  windows  brought  with 
it  the  smell  of  the  grass  and  stirred  the  heavy  curtains.  Car- 
rington  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table  in  a  great  oak  chair 
which  Grace  once  told  me  had  come  from  a  house  that  was 
famous  in  English  history.  There  was  an  escutcheon  which 
some  of  the  settlers  derided  on  the  paneling  above  it,  and 
the  sunlight  beating  in  through  a  window  fell  on  him.  He 
sat  very  erect,  a  lean,  commanding  figure  with  expressionless 
face  and  drooping  white  moustache,  close  to  the  great  English 
pattern  hearth  which  in  winter  assisted  the  much  more  use- 
ful stove,  while  both  his  manner  and  the  surroundings  sug- 
gested some  scene  in  the  feudal  ages  rather  than  an  incident 
on  the  newly-opened  prairie. 

"  You  asked  me  to  meet  you,  and,  as  far  as  I  can  see, 
every  man  in  Carrington  is  here,"  he  said.  "  Raymond 
Lyle,  you  called  this  meeting.  We  are  waiting  for  what 
you  have  to  say." 

Lyle  was  not  an  orator,  but  he  wTas  filled  with  his  subject, 
and  the  men  listened  to  him  that  day.  First  he  supplied 
them  with  details  respecting  the  projected  creamery,  and 
then  straightening  himself  a  little  he  turned  his  quiet, 
honest  eyes  upon  his  host. 

"  We  desire  to  have  your  approval,  sir,  but  we  clearly 
recognize  the  necessity  for  more  attention  to  the  commercial 


352       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

side  of  the  question  if  there  is  to  be  a  lasting  future  for 
Carrington,"  he  said.  "  We  are  proud  of  the  colony,  and 
we  are  all  sportsmen,  I  think,  but  it  seems  to  us  that  it  is 
not  wise  to  make  it  a  mere  playground  and  keep  out  all  but 
people  of  our  own  station.  On  the  contrary  it  would  be 
better  to  welcome  any  well-educated  Englishman  and  make 
it  easier  for  him  to  earn  a  living  here.  In  fact,  we  want  an 
open-door  policy,  and  a  means  of  providing  for  the  future  of 
our  children.  It  can  be  provided  only  by  industrial  enter- 
prise, which  is  why  I  advocate  the  building  of  the  creamery." 

For  the  first  time  a  cynical  smile  flickered  across  Car- 
rington's  face. 

"Are  you  speaking  for  yourself,  or  for  the  rest?"  he 
asked. 

"  For  myself  certainly,"  said  Lyle.  "  How  far  the  rest 
agree  with  me  will  be  seen  if  we  appeal  to  them  as  an 
assembly  with  power  to  decide,  which,  unless  we  are  forced 
to  it,  I  think  most  of  us  should  sooner  avoid." 

"  Then,"  remarked  Carrington  dryly,  "  in  your  case,  at 
least,  I  quite  fail  to  see  any  duty  toward  posterity.  You 
have  always  lived  among  us  as  a  bachelor,  Lyle.  I  sus- 
pect your  other  arguments  would  appear  equally  foolish  on 
examination.  Will  somebody  else  set  out  the  precise  ad- 
vantages we  may  expect  to  derive  from  this  creamery.  I 
wish  to  see  how  far  the  crazy  notion  has  laid  hold  of  you." 

Lyle  flushed.  Some  of  the  younger  men  laughed,  and  it  is 
possible  that  had  their  leader  shown  any  sign  of  faltering, 
the  Colonel's  sarcastic  disapproval  would  even  then  have 
induced  them  to  abandon  the  scheme.  Most  of  the  men  of 
Carrington  had,  however,  made  up  their  minds,  and  several 
in  succession  explained  in  deferent  but  determined  fashion 
why  they  considered  it  necessary  to  support  Lyle.  Carring- 
ton, I  fancied^  found  it  somewhat  difficult  to  hide  his  aston- 
ishment. 


THE  DEPOSED  RULER  353 

"  We  are  going  down  to  the  root  of  the  matter,"  said  the 
last  of  them.  "  We  wish  to  earn  money,  and  not  merely  to 
spend  it  on  half-hearted  farming;  and  every  desirable  set- 
tler who  takes  up  Carrington  land  increases  the  value  of 
our  possessions,  and  what  is  more  important,  our  means  of 
progress.  We  want  more  bridges,  graded  roads  through  the 
coulees,  a  stockyard  on  the  railroad,  and  some  day  a  branch 
line;  and  with  all  deference  to  you,  we  mean  to  get  them. 
If  this  is  impossible  under  present  conditions,  those  condi- 
tions must  be  changed." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  approval,  but  watching  Colonel 
Carrington  I  knew  that  the  man  had  said  too  much.  In 
reply  to  a  sharp  question  as  to  who  was  to  undertake  the 
building  operations  my  name  was  mentioned. 

"  Lorimer  of  Fairmead !  I  might  have  known  it !  " 
gasped  the  Colonel. 

Then  there  was  silence  as  he  gazed  down  the  long  rows  of 
faces  before  answering. 

"  I  have  listened  with  painful  surprise,"  he  said.  "  You 
wish  to  hear  my  views,  and  you  shall  have  them,  but  first  I 
want  to  read  the  agreement  made  by  each  one  of  you  when 
you  first  settled  in  Carrington." 

He  did  so,  and  some  of  the  men  looked  uncomfortable, 
for  the  land-settlement  scheme  practically  made  him  supreme 
authority  over  all  matters  w^hich  the  law  of  Canada  did  not 
affect.  It  also  made  it  clear  that  he  had  borne  the  largest 
share  of  the  cost  of  inaugurating  the  colony.  He  broke  off, 
and  it  was  a  few  moments  before  he  went  on  again. 

"  I  founded  this  colony,  and  —  I  feel  compelled  to  men- 
tion it  —  delivered  some  of  you  from  difficulties,  and  brought 
you  here.  I  have  spent  my  time  and  money  freely  for  the 
good  of  the  Carrington  district,  and  I  have  made  it  what 
it  is,  a  place  where  an  English  gentleman  can  live  econom- 
ically if  he  will  work  a  little,  enjoying  abundant  sport  and 


354       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  society  of  his  equals.  That  was  my  one  object,  and  I 
have  accomplished  it,  but  further  I  will  not  go.  Green 
Mountain  is  the  finest  cover  for  game  on  the  prairie,  and 
while  I  live  no  man  shall  cut  timber,  make  roads,  or  put 
up  a  factory  there.  Neither  will  I  in  any  way  countenance 
the  opening  up  of  Carrington  —  my  Carrington  —  to  in- 
dustrial exploitation  for  the  influx  of  all  and  sundry.  I  will 
have  no  railroad  nor  any  kind  of  factory  within  our  limits 
if  I  can  prevent  it,  and  seeing  in  it  the  thin  end  of  the 
wedge  I  must  ask  you  to  abandon  the  creamery  scheme." 

He  broke  ofr  abruptly,  and  then  turned  to  Lyle  again. 

"  Have  you  lost  your  senses,  Raymond.  Would  you  make 
this  clean,  green  land  like  Lancashire  or  parts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania? " 

One  could  see  by  the  faces  of  the  others  that  this  shot  had 
told.  There  was  no  great  liking  for  commerce  in  any  of 
those  who  heard  him.  They  were  sportsmen  first  of  all, 
and  they  loved  the  open.  Even  had  the  thing  been  probable 
none  of  them  would  have  wished  to  see  Carrington  de- 
filed by  the  smoke  of  mills  and  factories.  It  seemed  to  me 
that  the  Colonel  might  have  bent  them  to  his  will  had  he 
made  some  trifling  concession  or  been  willing  to  discuss  the 
matter  quietly.  Most  of  them,  I  felt,  would  gladly  have 
met  him  half-way.  Still  that  was  never  a  habit  of  Colonel 
Carrington's.  He  was  an  autocrat  all  through,  and  when 
he  desired  anything  done  he  simply  commanded  it.  In  a 
moment  or  two  Lyle  answered  him- 

"  No  sir,"  he  said.  "  At  least,  not  exactly,  though  Lan- 
cashire clothes  half  the  people  in  the  world  with  her  cotton, 
and  the  roads  that  have  opened  up  this  continent  are  laid 
with  Pennsylvania  steel.  Still,  as  we  haven't  iron  or  coal 
here  there's  very  little  probability  of  our  doing  what  you 
seem  afraid  of  with  Carrington.  We  believe  that  the  en- 
terprise will  prove  a  general  benefit.     We  merely  want  good 


THE  DEPOSED  RULER  355 

wagon  roads,  a  creamery,  and  a  few  other  similar  things, 
and  we  respectfully  ask  you  not  to  veto  them." 

"  I  can't  meet  you,"  said  Carrington.  "  As  I  said,  my 
suggestion  is  that  this  preposterous  scheme  be  abandoned 
forthwith." 

There  was  for  a  few  moments  a  silence  which  seemed  in- 
tensified by  the  soft  rustle  of  the  curtains  as  the  breeze  from 
the  prairie  flowed  into  the  room.  Then  one  of  the  men  who 
had  spoken  in  favor  of  the  creamery  rose  and  looked  hard 
at  Lyle  who  made  a  little  sign. 

"  Then  as  a  matter  of  form  and  to  take  a  vote  I  second 
that,"  he  said. 

The  others  were  very  still,  but  I  saw  Carrington  gaze  at 
the  speaker  almost  incredulously.  Though,  as  one  of  them 
told  me  afterward,  a  vote  had  once  before  been  asked  for, 
it  had  only  established  their  leader's  authority  more  firmly, 
and  I  think  this  was  the  first  time  that  any  determined  op- 
position had  been  offered  to  his  will. 

"  You  mean  to  take  a  vote  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes  sir,"  said  another  man,  and  there  was  a  little  mur- 
mur of  concurrence.  "  I'm  afraid  there  is  no  other  course 
left  open  to  us." 

Again  the  Colonel  stared  at  them  incredulously,  and  it 
seemed  to  me  that  there  was  something  almost  pathetic  about 
the  old  man's  position.  Grim  and  overbearing  as  he  was, 
he  stood  alone,  and  for  the  first  time  I  think  he  to  some 
extent  realized  it.  Still,  it  was  evident  that  he  could  not 
bring  himself  to  believe  that  they  would  go  so  far  as  to 
overrule  his  plainly  expressed  decision. 

"  Then,"  he  said,  "  you  must  proceed  to  take  it.  As 
stipulated  in  the  charter  it  must  be  by  ballot." 

A  man  who  had  not  spoken  yet^  stood  up.  "  To  save  time 
I  move  as  an  amendment  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
confer  with  Mr.  Lorimer,  who  is  here  for  the  purpose,  as  to 


356      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

the  construction  of  the  creamery  and  to  prepare  a  workable 
scheme  which  will  if  possible  be  submitted  to  this  meeting." 

It  was  seconded,  and  Lyle  moved  down  the  long  table 
with  a  handful  of  little  papers.  It  was  clear  that  the  sup- 
porters of  the  scheme  had  everything  ready,  and  for  the 
first  time  a  shadow  of  doubt  seemed  to  creep  into  Carring- 
ton's  eyes. 

"  You  are  all  supplied  ?  "  he  said  at  length.  "  Then  we 
will,  as  usual,  take  the  amendment  first." 

One  or  two  of  them  borrowed  a  pencil  from  a  neighbor, 
but  it  seemed  very  significant  to  me  that  most  had  one 
ready,  and  though  I  had  no  part  in  what  was  being  done, 
I  felt  the  tension  when  a  man  moved  down  the  table  collect- 
ing the  little  folded  papers  on  a  tray.  Then  the  Colonel 
signed  for  him  and  another  man  to  open  them,  and  I  think 
every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  two  men  who  stood  by  the  win- 
dow tossing  the  papers  upon  a  growing  pile.  There  was 
only  one  pile,  though  three  little  slips  were  laid  suggestively 
by  themselves.  Then  in  the  midst  of  a  very  impressive  si- 
lence through  which  the  footsteps  broke  with  a  startling 
distinctness  the  two  men  moved  toward  the  head  of  the 
table.  The  rest  leaned  forward  watching  their  ruler  who 
sat  very  still  and  grim  in  face.  I  fancied  that  though  he 
was  anxious  he  could  not  realize  what  awaited  him. 

"  They  have  all  voted  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes  sir,"  said  one  of  the  men  in  a  voice  that  sounded 
somewhat  strained,  and  Carrington  looked  at  him  sharply. 

"The  result?"  he  asked. 

"  The  amendment  is  carried,  sir.  There  are  only  three 
dissentients." 

No  one  spoke,  but  I  think  a  thrill  ran  through  everybody 
in  the  room,  and  I  know  the  blood  rose  to  my  face.  Still, 
I  fancy  their  own  sensations  troubled  very  few  of  my  com- 
panions   for   every   eye   was   fixed   on   their   leader,    as   the 


THE  DEPOSED  RULER  357 

stiffness  seemed  suddenly  to  melt  out  of  him.  He  gasped, 
and  for  a  moment  or  two  seemed  to  be  struggling  to 
recover  himself. 

Though  I  had  not  expected  this  I  felt  sorry  for  him.  All 
but  three  of  his  followers  had  turned  against  him,  and  it  was 
evident  after  what  had  been  said  that  their  decision  implied 
the  subversion  of  his  authority.  To  a  man  of  his  tempera- 
ment it  must  have  been  inexpressibly  galling.  Then  he 
painfully  straightened  himself.  He  had  in  all  probability 
never  been  beaten  yet,  and  he  had  once,  so  his  sister  after- 
ward told  me,  tamed  a  native  levy  of  irregular  cavalry  and 
commanded  them  for  two  years  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  a 
number  of  the  dusky  troopers  had  sworn  to  murder  him  on 
opportunity. 

"  You  cannot  have  the  Green  Mountain  site,  and  I'll  stop 
this  thing  yet,"  he  said. 

The  listeners'  faces  were  a  study.  Indignation,  regret, 
suppressed  sympathy  and  a  determination  to  maintain  their 
rights,  were  stamped  on  them. 

They  were  Englishman  born  with  a  due  respect  for  con- 
stituted authority  who  had  loyally  obeyed  a  leader  of  their 
own  class,  but  they  had  also  the  average  Englishman's 
respect  for  the  liberty  of  the  individual,  and  there  were  signs 
of  approval  when  Lyle  spoke  again. 

"  We  have  every  respect  for  you,  Colonel  Carrington,  and 
the  course  we  have  been  compelled  to  take  is  a  painful  one, 
but  I  think  there  was  no  avoiding  it,"  he  said.  "  In  regard 
to  the  charter,  we  have  kept  it  faithfully  even  when  you 
rather  overstrained  its  meaning.  Now  we  can  no  longer 
allow  it  to  bar  all  progress,  and  we  have  resolved,  if  in 
agreement  with  one  clause  it  can  as  I  think  be  done,  to 
entirely  remodel  it  by  a  unanimous  assembly.  If  not  we 
will  sell  our  holdings  and  move  out  in  a  body  onto  Govern- 
ment land." 


358       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Lyle  had  faced  the  crisis.  There  was  nothing  left  but 
open  defiance,  and  he  did  not  shrink  from  it.  When  he 
broke  off,  Carrington,  who  had  listened  with  the  veins 
swelling  on  his  forehead,  rose  suddenly.  It  was  evident 
that  he  had  allowed  his  passion  to  master  him. 

"  Will  you  all  turn  against  me,  you  dividend-hunting 
traitors  ?"  he  thundered.  "You  whom  I  brought  here, 
and  spent  the  best  of  my  life  for,  squandering  my  daughter's 
patrimony  on  this  colony  until  she  too  sets  her  will  against 
me.  Then  listen  to  me.  You  shall  do  none  of  the  things 
you  say.  By  heaven,  you  shall  not.  There  shall  never  be  a 
factory  in  my  settlement.  In  spite  of  you  —  I  say  —  you 
shall  not  —  do  —  one  —  of  them !  " 

His  voice  broke,  and  his  jaw  dropped.  The  hand  he  had 
swung  up  fell  to  his  side,  and  I  heard  a  faint  cry  as  he 
sank  limply  into  his  chair.  He  lay  there  with  his  head  on 
the  carved  back  gazing  at  his  rebellious  followers  with 
glassy  eyes. 

I  do  not  know  who  was  the  first  to  move,  but  in  a 
moment  I  was  standing  near  his  side,  and  while  a  confused 
bustle  commenced  behind  us  I  saw  Lyle  slip  an  arm  beneath 
his  neck. 

"  Bring  water,  somebody!  Ask  Miss  Carrington  for 
brandy  —  don't  tell  her  what  it's  for,"  he  said.  "  Hurry, 
he's  either  in  a  fit  or  choking." 

A  man  brought  the  spirits,  and  Lyle  mopped  Carrington's 
forehead  with  a  wetted  handkerchief,  which  was  probably 
of  no  great  benefit,  while  when  with  the  assistance  of 
somebody  I  managed  to  open  his  clenched  teeth  and  pour  a 
little  brandy  down  his  throat  a  faint  sign  of  returning  sense 
crept  into  his  eyes.  He  looked  at  us  in  a  puzzled  manner, 
saying  in  short  gasps,  "  Lorimer  and  Lyle !  You  shall  not 
—  I  tell  you !  " 

I  believe  this  was  the  last  time  he  ever  recognized  us. 


THE  DEPOSED  RULER  359 

When  his  face  grew  expressionless,  Lyle  who  laid  him  back 
again,  turned  to  me. 

"  Did  you  notice  that  he  moved  as  though  he  had  no 
power  in  his  left  side?"  he  said.  "Foster  and  Broom- 
field,  come  here  and  help  me.  Armadale,  you  go  and  tell 
Miss  Carrington  tactfully." 

We  left  consternation  behind  us  when  after  the  return  of 
the  unwilling  Armadale  we  carried  the  Colonel  into  his 
great  bedroom  where  he  lay  breathing  stertorously  while 
Foster  remained  to  assist  his  sister.  Then  the  murmurs 
broke  out  as  I  returned,  and  each  man  looked  at  his  neighbor 
in  dismay,  until  there  was  once  more  stillness  when  dressed 
in  some  clinging  white  fabric  Grace  stood  with  a  stern,  cold 
face  in  the  doorway. 

"  You  have  spoken  sufficient  for  one  day,"  she  said,  and 
some  of  those  who  heard  her  afterward  observed  how  like 
her  voice  was  to  her  father's.  "  Enough  to  kill  my  father 
between  you.  May  I  ask  you,  now  that  you  can  do  no 
more,  to  leave  this  house  in  quietness." 

The  climax  had  filled  them  with  consternation.  They  had 
acted  in  all  honesty,  and  I  cannot  think  they  were  to  blame, 
but  the  riders  of  Carrington,  stalwart,  courageous  men, 
slunk  out  like  beaten  dogs  under  the  gaze  of  the  girl.  When 
they  had  gone,  she  beckoned  me. 

"  Ride  hard  to  the  railroad,  and  don't  return  without  a 
doctor  from  Winnipeg.  I  wish  to  hear  no  excuses  or 
explanations.     Every   moment    is   precious  —  go!" 

I  went,  much  as  did  the  others,  and  found  Lyle  who 
looked  very  shamefaced  fumbling  with  his  saddle  cinch 
outside. 

"  It's  an  unfortunate  business,  but  of  course  we  never 
expected  such  a  sending  —  heaven  forbid!  "  he  said.  "  Well, 
if  the  wires  will  do  it  we'll  bring  out  the  best  doctor 
they've    got    in   Winnipeg.     With   all    respect    to    them    I 


360       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

shouldn't  like  to  be  Foster  left  behind  to  face  those  two 
women.  Go  home,  and  abuse  me  for  making  an  unpre- 
cedented mess  of  it  if  you  like,  the  rest  of  you!  " 

It  was  a  hard  ride  to  the  railroad,  for  we  did  not  spare 
the  beasts,  and  when  the  instrument  clicked  out  a  message 
that  the  doctor  was  ready  but  could  not  start  before  the  next 
day's  train  Lyle  wired  back,  "  Come  now  in  a  special.  We 
guarantee  expense." 

Then  he  turned  to  me.  "  I  think  we  were  justified  in 
what  we  said;  but  he  was  our  chief,  and  a  good  one  for  a 
long  time.  Now  I'd  give  up  the  whole  scheme  to  set  the 
thing  straight  again." 

In  due  time  we  brought  a  skillful  surgeon  to  Carrington 
Manor,  and  waited  very  anxiously  until  he  descended  in 
search  of  us. 

"  It  is  by  no  means  a  common  case,"  he  said.  "  Mental 
aberration  and  partial  paralysis.  Miss  Carrington  refers  me 
to  you  for  the  possible  cause  of  it.  I  gather  that  Colonel 
Carrington  was  a  headstrong  man  who  could  brook  no 
opposition  to  his  will  and  was  subjected  to  great  excitement 
at  a  meeting  you  held." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Lyle.  "  Without  going  into  unnecessary 
details,  he  strenuously  resisted  a  project  we  had  decided  on, 
and  the  defeat  of  his  wishes  apparently  came  as  a  shock.  He 
was  speaking  vehemently  and  collapsed  in  the  middle  of  it." 

"  What  one  might  have  anticipated,"  said  the  doctor.  "  I 
scarcely  think  the  result  will  be  fatal,  but  Colonel  Car- 
rington will  never  be  the  same  man  again.  It  is  quite  likely 
that  he  will  not  recover  the  use  of  his  mental  faculties, 
though  it  is  rather  premature  to  speak  definitely  yet,  and  I 
should  not  unduly  alarm  the  two  ladies."  Then,  perhaps 
noticing  the  genuine  distress  in  Lyle's  face,  he  added,  "  I 
don't  think  you  need  attribute  too  much  to  the  incident  you 
mentioned.     It  was  only  the  last  straw,  so  to  speak,  for  I 


THE  DEPOSED  RULER  361 

fancy  the  patient  had  been  under  a  severe  mental  strain  for 
a  long  time,  and  from  what  his  sister  tells  me  he  was 
predisposed  to  attack,  while  some  other  cause  would  probably 
have  precipitated  the  crisis." 

I  sent  word  asking  whether  Grace  would  see  me,  and  re- 
ceiving an  answer  that  she  would  see  no  one  I  rode  moodily 
back  to  Fairmead.  As  Lyle  had  said,  we  were  sorry,  and 
should  have  given  much  to  undo  what  had  been  done,  but 
it  was  too  late,  and  I  felt  that  Colonel  Carrington  who 
could  never  have  accepted  a  public  defeat  had,  unyielding  to 
the  last,  made  a  characteristic  ending. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON 

A  MONTH  slipped  by,  and  though  I  rode  over  often  to 
the  Manor  it  was  seldom  that  I  had  speech  with  Grace, 
and  never  saw  her  father.  The  attack  had  left  him  with 
intellect  clouded  and  limbs  nearly  powerless  on  one  side, 
while  he  would  hardly  permit  either  his  sister  or  daughter, 
who  were  the  only  persons  he  apparently  recognized,  to 
leave  his  sight.  It  was  also  with  some  trepidation  that  I 
awaited  the  first  interview  with  Grace,  but  this  vanished 
when  she  came  in  showing  signs  of  an  anxious  vigil  but 
only  pleasure  at  my  presence. 

"I  am  sorry  that  I  spoke  so  to  you,  Ralph,  that  awful 
day,"  she  said.  "  For  hours  together  I  have  thought  over  all 
that  happened,  and  though  it  was  hard  to  overcome  a  feeling 
of  resentment  against  the  others,  and  even  you  at  first,  I 
tried  to  judge  them  fairly;  and,  if  it  is  not  disloyal  to  say  so, 
I  think  they  were  right.  Some  day,  when  there  will  be 
many  things  to  settle,  I  hope  to  tell  them  so;  but  I  cannot 
do  it  yet." 

She  would  say  nothing  in  the  meantime  as  to  her  own 
plans,  beyond  that  before  she  could  consider  herself  there 
was  much  to  be  arranged  that  concerned  her  father  and  the 
Manor,  and  with  this  I  had  to  be  content.  Lyle  also 
showed  his  regret  in  a  practical  fashion  by  visiting  the 
Manor  constantly  and  supervising  the  farming,  though  I 
knew  his  own  holding  suffered  in  consequence,  and  by  his 
advice  young  Foster  had  been  appointed  bailiff  at  a  salary. 

362 


THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON      363 

Meanwhile,  Harry  and  I  were  busy  almost  night  and  day, 
for  when  the  sowing  was  finished  I  brought  out  carpenters 
and  set  them  to  work  extending  Fairmead,  while  with  our 
own  hands  we  hewed  wind-felled  timber  where  we  could 
find  it  in  the  bluffs  ready  for  them  and  the  creamery.  It 
was  often  necessary  to  ride  long  leagues  for  birches  stout 
enough,  and  we  frequently  slept  on  the  bare  earth  or  in  the 
wagon  beside  our  work. 

To  please  a  friend  in  Winnipeg  I  had  accepted  the 
services  of  a  destitute  British  mechanic,  who,  when  he  ar- 
rived at  Fairmead,  with  his  fare  advanced  at  our  expense, 
demanded  the  highest  wages  paid  in  Canada,  and  then  ex- 
pressed grave  doubts  as  to  whether  he  could  conscientiously 
undertake  the  more  laborious  parts  of  the  framing,  because 
he  was  a  cabinet  joiner,  and  this,  so  he  said,  was  carpenter's 
work.  We  had  met  others  of  the  kind  before,  who  had 
made  their  employers'  lives  a  burden  in  the  old  country,  but 
they  were  the  exception,  after  all. 

11  You  can  please  yourself,"  said  Harry.  "  I'm  a  land- 
owner and  ploughman;  but  if  I  hadn't  my  hands  full 
already  I'd  tackle  anything,  from  making  bricks  to  framing 
bridges,  for  the  wages  you're  getting.  However,  to  please 
you,   we'll  call   the  operation   joinery." 

We  had  further  trouble  with  this  individual,  who  con- 
tinually lamented  he  had  ever  come  to  a  country  wherein 
there  was  no  beer,  and  derided  his  Ontario  comrade  for 
doing  too  much.  The  longer  a  job  lasted  the  better  for 
those  employed  on  it  and  the  rest  of  the  profession,  he  said: 
to  which,  as  we  heard  later,  the  Ontario  man  replied :  "  If 
the  job  lasts  too  long  in  this  country  they  pretty  well  fire 
you  out  of.  it." 

At  last,  returning  one  morning  wet  with  dew  from  a 
damp  bed  on  a  bluff,  where  we  had  slept  after  toiling  late 
the  night  before,  we  decided  to  dispense  with  his  services. 


364       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

"  Good  heavens,  man!  ii  you  get  on  at  that  rate  it  will 
take  you  two  years  to  finish, "  I  said,  when  I  found  him 
tranquilly  notching  the  ends  of  some  beams  with  mallet  and 
chisel.  "  How  long  do  you  spend  over  one  ?  And  didn't  I 
tell  you  to  use  the  axe  ?  " 

"  Half  a  day  to  make  a  good  job!  There's  no  man  in 
Canada  can  teach  me  what  tools  to  use,"  he  said;  and, 
being  stiff  all  over,  I  turned  to  Harry. 

"  There's  a  fair  edge  on  that  axe.  You  might  show  him," 
I  suggested. 

Harry,  who  was  in  a  hurry,  flung  off  his  jacket,  badly 
tearing  it;  and  for  a  while  the  heavy  blade  made  flashes 
in  the  sunlight,  while  the  white  chips  leaped  up  in  showers, 
until,  flinging  down  the  axe,  he  pulled  out  his  watch. 

"  Ten  minutes  exactly  —  you  can  dress  it  another  five," 
he  said.  "  Now  are  you  willing  to  do  it  in  that  way? 
No?  I  didn't  suppose  you  would  be.  Well,  we  won't 
detain  you.  Give  him  his  fare  to  Winnipeg  and  some 
breakfast,  Ralph  —  it  will  pay  you." 

I  found  Ormond's  horses  useful;  for  between  timber- 
cutting,  marking  down  growing  hay,  rides  to  purchase 
cattle,  and  visits  to  the  Manor,  we  often  covered  fifty  miles 
a  day,  with  hard  work  besides;  while,  when  we  brought  out 
Ontario  bushmen,  Fairmead  and  the  creamery  lumber  piles 
increased  rapidly  in  size,  and  our  bank  balance  diminished 
as  rapidly.  Once,  too,  when  I  came  home  so  wTeary  that  I 
could  scarcely  get  out  of  the  saddle,  I  found  a  black-edged 
letter  awaiting  me,  and  dropped  heavily  into  a  chair  after 
opening  it. 

"I  hope  there's  no  bad  news,"  said  Aline;  "it  has  an 
American  stamp.     Who  can  it  be?" 

"  Cousin  Alice !  You  might  read  it  —  the  sun  and  the 
grass  dust  have  almost  blinded  me." 

Martin    Lorimer    had    written    the    letter    from    a   little 


THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON     365 

town  in  Southern  California,  and  Aline  read :  "I  am  in  sore 
distress,  Ralph.  Your  poor  cousin  died  here  yesterday  of 
an  old  sickness  she  had  long  greatly  suffered  from.  She  was 
my  only  child  —  all  that  was  left  me;  and  I'm  going  back 
to  England  a  very  lonely  man.  I'll  ask  you  in  a  post  or 
two  to  meet  me." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  and  yet  it  may  have  been  a  release/ ' 
said  Aline.  "  Hers  was  a  very  hard  lot  to  bear,  but  she 
was  always  cheerful.  Poor  Uncle  Martin!  Of  course 
you  will  go  to  meet  him." 

I  did  so  later  when,  as  a  special  favor,  a  mounted  man 
brought  me  a  telegram  from  Elktail,  and  Martin  Lorimer 
gripped  my  fingers  hard  when  I  boarded  the  east-bound 
train  at  that  station. 

"  I  knew  thee  would  come,  Ralph,  and  I  was  longing  for 
a  face  that  I  knew,"  he  said.  "  Ay,  to  the  last  my  poor  girl 
remembered  thee.  I'm  going  home  to  England  —  stayed 
here  too  long;  and  Canada  seems  empty  without  her.  Only 
time  to  catch  the  liner,  or  I'd  have  come  to  Fairmead,  and 
IVe  much  to  tell  thee  on  the  road  to  Winnipeg." 

He  looked  sadly  shaken,  but  glad  to  meet  any  kinsman 
in  his  trouble,  and,  asking  few  questions,  I  listened  quietly 
while,  ensconced  in  a  corner  of  a  first-class  car,  he  relieved  his 
soul  with  talk.  He  told  me  much  that  surprised  me,  but 
which  is  not  connected  with  this  story,  until  I  started  when 
he  said :  "  Now  I  may  tell  thee  that  it  was  Alice  sent  that 
money.  She  did  it  main  cleverly, —  her  own  savings,  poor 
girl;  I'm  glad  I  never  stinted  her  in  the  matter  of  money. 
*  You  can  tell  him  when  I'm  gone,  father;  it  pleased  me 
well  to  know  I  had  helped  to  make  him  happy/  she  said. 
Then  again,  almost  at  the  end,  she  whispered :  '  Tell  Ralph 
I  wish  him  a  long  life,  and  the  best  this  world  can  give  him 
and  Miss  Carrington/  " 

Martin    Lorimer    coughed    vigorously    before    he    con- 


366       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

tinued:  "I  never  heard  a  word  about  that  loan  until  I 
guessed  from  thy  tale  at  the  chalet  that  my  girl,  never  sus- 
pecting it,  had  countered  my  plans.  Well,  well,  it  was  all 
as  it  had  to  be;  but  if  she  had  never  helped  thee  maybe 
another  Lorimer  would  be  waiting  instead  of  a  stranger  to 
carry  on  the  Orb  Mill  when  I've  done  with  it." 

We  were  nearing  the  Red  River,  and  the  roofs  of 
Winnipeg  lifted  themselves  higher  above  the  prairie,  when 
he  said,  for  Martin  Lorimer,  almost  timidly,  "  Remembering 
our  talk  at  the  chalet,  canst  change  thy  mind,  lad,  or  is  it 
too  late?  " 

"  It  is  too  late,  Uncle  Martin,"  I  answered  with  re- 
luctance, for  I  longed  to  do  something  to  comfort  him. 
"  As  I  told  you,  even  if  I  were  ready  there  are  others  to 
consider  now." 

He  sighed  before  he  answered  sadly :  "  Ay,  thou'lt  take 
thy  own  road ;  it's  born  in  thee.  Then  follow  it  steadfastly, 
and  God  bless  thee.  Some  day  I'll  come  back  to  Fairmead, 
but  I  must  have  time  to  get  over  this  blow." 

Ten  minutes  later  we  parted,  and  it  was  some  hours 
after  the  Atlantic  express  pulled  out  of  Winnipeg  before  I 
recovered  my  serenity.  I  could  not  forget  the  kindness  of 
my  dead  cousin,  who,  in  spite  of  sickness  and  physical 
suffering,  had  so  cleverly  aided  me  in  my  time  of  need. 

The  next  event  of  moment  happened  when  Foster  brought 
me  a  message  from  Grace  requesting  my  presence  at  the 
Manor  on  the  following  day.  Most  of  the  men  of  Car- 
rington  were  also  expected,  Foster  said.  I  reached  the 
Manor  at  the  appointed  time,  and  made  the  latter  portion 
of  the  journey  in  company  with  several  of  the  colonists, 
and  it  was  with  mingled  curiosity  and  reluctance  that  we 
gathered  in  the  great  hall. 

Except  that  the  air  was  warmer  and  there  were  flowers 
and  feathery  grasses  in  the  tall  vases,  it  looked  much  the  same 


THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON      367 

as  it  did  on  our  last  eventful  visit,  though  there  was  now  no 
grim  figure  in  the  carved  oak  chair.  No  one  knew  why  we 
had  been  summoned  except  Lyle  and  myself,  and  I  did  not 
know  wholly.  So  there  was  a  buzz  of  curious  whispers, 
until  Lyle  flung  back  the  doors,  and  Grace,  followed  by 
Miss  Carrington,  appeared  in  the  opening.  They  were 
dressed  alike  in  some  neutral-tinted  fabric,  and  with  one 
accord  the  riders  of  Carrington  rose  to  their  feet,  and  stood 
fast  and  motionless  until  with  a  queenly  gesture  Grace  seated 
herself  in  the  oaken  chair.  Grace  was  younger  than  myself 
by  two  full  years,  but  there  was  no  trace  of  diffidence  about 
her  as  she  looked  down  out  of  steady  eyes  at  the  men 
who,  as  it  were,  did  homage  before  her.  Then  deep  silence 
followed  as  she  said  with  a  perfect  distinctness: 

"  It  was  fitting  after  what  has  happened  that  I  should 
send  for  you.  My  father  founded  this  colony,  and  still 
nominally  holds  the  greater  portion  of  the  land  in  it.  As 
you  know,  he  has  been  stricken  —  and  has  lost  his  reason ; 
and  accordingly  the  management  of  the  estate  devolves 
upon  Miss  Carrington  and  myself  —  principally,  under  his 
last  will,  on  myself.  It  is  a  heavy  responsibility  for  two 
women,  to  do  the  best,  not  only  for  Carrington  Manor, 
but  for  the  Carrington  colony,  until  it  shall  please  the 
Almighty  to  restore  its  founder  —  or  grant  him  release. 
While  the  Manor  lands  remain  intact  and  the  agreement 
binding,  all  that  affects  our  welfare  affects  that  of  the  whole 
settlement." 

Grace  paused,  and  a  man  rose  upright  at  the  further 
end  of  the  hall. 

"  We  came  here  with  a  feeling  of  contrition,  yet  not 
wholly  ashamed,"  he  said.  "  On  behalf  of  all  I  offer  the 
new  mistress  of  Carrington  our  deepest  sympathy  and  an 
assurance  of  good-will,,,  and  again  there  was  a  deep  murmur 
of  chivalrous  respect  from  the  sun  and  wind-bronzed  men.. 


368       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Graced  gaze  was  not  so  steady  and  her  voice  was  lower 
as  she  answered,  "  I  thank  you.  It  is  a  barren  heritage, 
weighted  down  by  debt,  but  with  the  help  of  my  kinsman 
Lyle  we  shall  do  our  utmost  to  improve  it.  Still,  it  was 
not  that  that  I  wanted  to  tell  you.  How  we  last  parted  you 
know,"  and  some  of  those  I  noticed  showed  a  darker  - 
color  in  their  cheeks,  as  though  it  were  an  unpleasant 
memory.  "  Since  then  I  have  tried  to  consider  rightly  all  , 
that  led  up  to  it,  and  I  ask  you  to  forgive  me." 

"  It  was  our  own  blind  precipitancy.  I  am  afraid  you 
spoke  the  truth,"  a  voice  said;  but  raising  her  hand  for 
silence  Grace  went  on: 

"  As  I  said,  this  estate  entails  a  heavy  responsibility,  and  I 
have  been  considering  what  I  should  do  concerning  the 
creamery.  My  father  acted  as  seemed  right  according  to 
his  judgment,  and  I  do  not  know  all  his  reasons,  but  now 
that  the  decision  devolves  upon  me  I  am  impelled  to  act 
according  to  my  own.  No  two  people  see  the  same  thing 
under  the  same  aspect,  and  —  this  is  no  disrespect  to  him  — 
I  dare  not  do  otherwise.  I  think  the  creamery  will  enhance 
the  settlement's  prosperity,  and  though  I  cannot  grant  the 
Green  Mountain  site,  in  which  you  must  bear  with  me,  you 
may  take  the  next  best,  the  Willow  Grove,  with  its  timber 
and  water,  at  an  appraised  value,  to  be  represented  by 
stock  in  the  creamery.  This  is  all  I  have  to  tell  you,  and 
until  I  resign  this  position  to  Miss  Carrington  I  trust  to  enjoy 
your  friendship  and  good-will.  You  will,  I  hope,  decide, 
before  you  go  when  to  start  the  work." 

"  There  is  still  a  ruler  of  Carrington ;  we  haven't  a 
Salic  law.  We  are  all  your  servants,  madam,"  a  big  man 
said,  and  when  some  one  cried,  "  To  the  Princess  of 
Carrington,"  the  rafters  rang  to  the  thunderous  cheer, 
while  once  more  I  wondered  that  Grace  should  ever  have 
listened  to  me.     Whether  it  was  born  in  her,  an  hereditary 


THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON      369 

dowry,  or  was  the  result  of  her  father's  influence  and 
company,  I  do  not  know,  but  Grace,  who  could  at  other 
times  be  only  womanly,  spoke  to  the  riders  of  Carrington 
with  the  air  of  a  sovereign.  And  yet  it  appeared  perfectly 
seemly  that  she  should  do  so,  for  whether  mirthful,  com- 
manding, or  pitiful,  Grace  was  in  all  things  natural. 
Neither  is  this  prejudice  in  her  favor  on  my  part,  for  it  is 
well  known  on  the  Assiniboian  prairie.  Still,  even  after 
work  had  commenced  on  the  creamery  and  the  finances 
of  the  Manor  were  adjusted  temporarily,  Grace  would  give 
me  no  definite  promise  as  to  when  she  would  leave  it  for 
Fairmead.  As  yet  her  first  duty  was  toward  the  helpless 
old  man  and  the  charge  he  had  left  her,  she  said. 

By  one  of  the  striking  coincidences  that  it  is  hard  to 
believe  are  accidents,  it  happened  that  as  we  mounted  out- 
side the  Manor  a  buggy  came  around  one  corner  of  the 
house,  and  with  a  feeling  akin  to  consternation  we  turned 
to  regard  its  occupant.  A  hired  man  held  the  reins,  but 
beside  him,  wrapped  in  a  fur  coat  although  the  day  was 
warm,  sat  Colonel  Carrington,  a  shivering,  huddled  object 
propped  against  the  backboard.  It  was  the  first  time  we 
had  seen  him,  and  the  sight  troubled  us,  for  the  few  weeks 
had  made  great  changes  in  the  ruler  of  Carrington. 

"  Fm  afraid  I'm  breaking  orders,"  the  driver  explained. 
"  Miss  Grace  said  wait  until  you  all  had  gone,  but  he  would 
come,  and  I  hadn't  the  heart  to  refuse  him.  He's  not 
understanding  much  these  days,  but  we  take  him  out  for 
an  hour  or  two,  when  he's  able  for  it,  in  the  sun." 

Colonel  Carrington  regarded  us  as  if  we  were  strangers, 
as  with  a  pitiful  courtesy  some  raised  their  hats  to  him. 
He  attempted  with  one  hand  to  strike  a  match  and 
dropped  it,  and  after  Lyle  ignited  another  and  held  it  to 
his  cigar  he  nodded  cordially.  "  I  thank  you,  sir,"  he  said 
with  an   entire   absence  of  recognition.     "I   am  not  quite 


370       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

as  strong  as  I  used  to  be.  Could  you  tell  me  how  far  it  is 
to  Lone  Hollow?  I  seem  to  have  forgotten  the  way,  and 
the  snow  is  soft  and  heavy." 

It  was  a  relief  to  all  of  us  when  the  buggy  drove  off, 
and  the  assembly  broke  up  with  a  sudden  chill  upon  its 
enthusiasm. 

One  evening  later  I  was  walking  home  past  Hudson's 
dwelling  when  I  noticed  a  curious  cloud  of  dust  hanging 
over  the  house,  and  strange  sounds  proceeding  from  it. 
They  suggested  that  somebody  was  vigorously  brushing  it, 
which  was  certainly  unusual.  Now  Hudson,  though  he 
held  a  quarter-section  of  Government  land,  had  really  no 
legal  claim  to  it,  because  he  had  neither  broken  sufficient 
virgin  sod  nor  put  the  necessary  acreage  under  cultivation. 
He  freely  admitted  that  he  was  prejudiced  against  hard 
work,  and,  when  in  need  of  a  few  dollars  to  purchase  actual 
necessities  that  he  could  not  borrow,  he  would  drive  away 
with  his  wagon  and  peddle  German  oleographs  and  patent 
medicines  to  the  less-educated  settlers,  returning  after  several 
weeks'  absence  to  settle  down  again  to  a  period  of  loafing. 

Aline  and  her  friend  Lilian  Kenyon,  as  well  as  the 
latter's  brother  were  with  me. 

"  What  on  earth  can  they  be  doing  inside  there,  and  what 
a  noise  they  are  making,"  said  Miss  Kenyon. 

"It  shows  that  my  good  counsel  has  not  all  fallen  on 
stony  soil,"  Aline  answered  laughingly.  "  Harry  —  that  is 
Mr.  Lorraine  —  is  apparently  seriously  engaged  in  spring 
cleaning.  I  have  been  giving  him  lessons  lately  on  the 
virtues  of  cleanliness." 

Understanding  the  process,  I  grinned  at  this,  and  fancied, 
though  I  could  not  be  certain,  that  Aline's  fair  companion 
envied  her  the  opportunity  for  giving  Harry  lessons  on  any- 
thing. When  the  next  cloud  of  dust  rolled  out  of  the 
window  an  irate  voice  came  with  it: 


THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON      371 

"  I'm  the  biggest  slouch  on  the  prairie,  eh;  I'll  pretty  well 
show  you  nobody  takes  liberties  with  me.  I'm  almighty 
sick  of  this  fooling  already;  there  goes  your  confounded 
bucket,  and  the  rest  of  the  blamed  caboodle  after  it." 

Lilian  Kenyon  started  when  a  bucket  fell  clattering  at 
her  feet,  a  brush  came  hurtling  toward  us,  and  amid  wild 
language  a  grimy  figure  appeared  at  the  window,  dropping 
chairs  and  other  furniture  wholesale  out  of  it,  while  her 
brother,   who   strove   to   conceal   his   merriment,   observed: 

"  Say,  hadn't  you  two  better  come  on  with  me?  It's 
getting  late  already,  and  Hudson  is  not  as  particular  as  he 
ought  to  be  when  he's  angry." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  Aline  in  a  tone  of  severity. 
"  He  is  a  very  disgraceful  man,  and  by  no  means  a  fit 
companion  for  Harry.  Ralph,  I  am  sorry  there  are  occasions 
when  both  of  you  indulge  in  unwarranted  expressions. 
Don't  you  think  such  conduct  unbecoming  in  an  elder 
brother,  or  any  respectable  landowner,  Lily?" 

I  laughed  and  Miss  Kenyon  looked  indignant  when  I 
answered:  "Then  go  along;  you  don't  understand  our 
trials,  or  you  wouldn't  condemn  us.  It  can  only  be  natural 
depravity  that  leads  Harry  to  persist  in  living  with  such  a 
companion  when  half  the  girls  on  the  prairie  are  willing  to 
provide  him  with  a  better  one." 

They  had  hardly  left  me  when,  disheveled  and  dusty, 
Hudson  strode  forth  in  wrathful  disgust. 

II  It's  almighty  hard  when  a  man  can't  live  peacefully  in 
his  own  home  without  your  confounded  partner  brushing  all 
over  it,"  he  muttered,  "  I  guess  it's  your  sister's  doing  —  I 
knew  there  would  be  trouble  when  she  came  in,  stepping 
like  a  gopher  on  wet  ploughing,  with  her  skirts  held  up. 
Anyway,  I'm  blamed  well  sick  of  Canada,  and  them  Govern- 
ment land  fellows  are  coming  right  down  on  me,  so  I'm 
just  going  to  drop  the  whole  thing  and  skip.     I'm  going 


372       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

to  sell  the  place  for  an  old  song,  or  burn  it,  and  light 
out  for  Dakota." 

I  frowned,  for  this  was  the  first  time  I  had  heard  of 
Aline's  visit,  and  it  struck  me  that  although  I  suffered  from 
her  craze  for  neatness  at  Fairmead  she  was  overstepping 
the  bounds  in  attempting  to  reform  Hudson's  homestead 
too;  but  Harry  evidently  overheard  him,  for  he  came  out. 

"  Try  to  talk  sensible  for  once,  Hudson,"  he  said.  "  See 
here,  I  don't  want  to  take  advantage  of  your  beastly 
temper,  but  if  you  are  really  bent  on  selling  the  place,  and 
not  vaporing  as  usual,  I'm  open  to  make  you  an  offer." 

"  I've  been  willing  to  sell  it  for  two  years,"  Hudson 
answered  with  a  grin.  "  Haven't  done  half  my  legal  break- 
ing, and  don't  mean  to,  so  it's  not  mine  to  sell,  and  would 
have  to  remain  registered  to  me  until  the  improvements 
were  completed.  Then,  you  see,  I  could  come  back,  and 
jump  you." 

"  I  don't  think  you  could,"  said  Harry.  "  You  might 
hurt  yourself  trying  it.  How  much  do  you  call  a  fair  thing 
for  the  holding  as  it  stands,  bearing  in  mind  our  risk  in 
buying  what  is  only  the  good-will  with  the  owner  absent?  " 

They  haggled  over  the  terms  for  a  while,  and  then 
Harry  turned  to  me. 

"  We  can  do  it  at  a  stretch,  Ralph,  by  paying  him  so 
much  after  the  crop's  sold  for  the  next  two  years.  Of 
course,  it's  a  big  handful,  but  there's  lots  of  sloo  hay  that 
would  feed  winter  stock,  and  I  want  the  house  badly.  In- 
deed, if  I  don't  get  it  I'm  going  to  build  one.  Don't  you 
think  we  could  take  the  risk?" 

I  thought  hard  for  a  few  minutes.  We  were  speculating 
boldly,  and  already  had  undertaken  rather  more  than  we 
could  manage;  but  the  offer  was  tempting,  and,  noting 
Harry's  eagerness,  I  agreed. 

"Yes;  we  will  chance  it,"  I  said,  "on  his  own  terms  of 


THE  NEW  RULER  OF  CARRINGTON      373 

yearly  payments,  although  heaven  only  knows  how  we're 
going  to  finance  it  if  the  crop  dies  off.  Hudson,  I'll  give 
you  a  small  check  to-morrow  if  you  are  satisfied,  but  it's 
fair  to  tell  you  that  if  you  stayed  and  completed  the  im- 
provements you  would  get  more  for  it  when  you  held  the 
patent." 

"  That's  all  right,"  said  Hudson.  "  I  guess  I'll  take  the 
check.  You  may  have  the  building  and  the  hundred 
and  sixty  blanked  acres,  scarcely  ten  of  them  broken.  It's 
easier  peddling  pictures  than  farming,  any  day,  and  no 
one  else  would  buy  it  in  the  circumstances.  It's  not 
even  mine  without  the  patent,  and  if  I  die  in  the  mean- 
time you'll  get  nothing." 

"  We'll  get  the  crop  and  the  cattle  feed ;  you  don't 
suppose  we've  bought  it  to  look  at;  and  if  you  died  the 
pay  would  stop,"  said  Harry  dryly,  and  turned  toward  me 
when  Hudson,  moving  away  contented,  sat  down  to  enjoy  a 
peaceful  smoke. 

"  That  settles  it,  Ralph,"  he  said.  "  The  deal  ought  to 
show  a  good  result,  and  I  wanted  the  house.  Now  that  I 
have  got  it,  it's  time  for  me  to  ask  you  a  question  which 
would  have  to  be  answered  presently  in  any  case.  I  was 
waiting  to  see  how  things  would  go,  out  of  fairness  to  her, 
but  as  we  have  bound  ourselves  hard  and  fast  to  Fairmead 
for  several  years  at  least,  I'm  going  to  ask  you  a  great  thing. 
Will  you  give  me  Aline?  " 

"  Will  she  have  you?  "  I  said  smiling. 

14  That's  just  what  I  don't  know,"  Harry  answered  rather 
dismally.  "  Sometimes  I  hope  so,  and  sometimes  I've  a 
cold  fear  that  she  won't.  But  now  that  I've  told  you,  I'll 
ask  her  this  very  evening.  You'll  wish  me  Godspeed,  won't 
your 

I  looked  at  him  with  sympathy,  for  I  knew  the  feeling, 
and  I  had  some  experience  of  Aline's  moods.     Then  I  laid 


374       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

my  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "  We  have  been  as  brothers  for  a 
long  time,  Harry,  and  it  would  be  only  good  news  if  you 
strengthen  the  tie.  If  Aline  has  the  wisdom  I  give  her 
credit  for,  she  won't  say  no,  and  there's  no  one  in  the 
Dominion  I  should  sooner  trust  her  to." 

"  Then  I'll  make  the  plunge,"  said  Harry.  "  Ralph,  I'm 
very  grateful  for  your  good-will.  Hudson,  where  did  you 
fling  that  confounded  bucket?  Get  up  and  straighten 
yourself,  and  go  after  Miss  Kenyon.  Take  her  anywhere 
away  from  Miss  Lorimer,  and,  if  you  feel  like  it,  make  love 
to  her.  You're  not  bad-looking  when  you  wash  yourself, 
and  I  think  she  has  a  fancy  for  you." 

"  Not  much !  "  said  Hudson  grinning  as  he  refilled  his 
pipe.  "  I've  had  one  experience  in  that  line,  and  I  don't 
want  another.     No,  sir,  henceforward  I  leave  women  alone." 

Harry  went  back  to  the  house  to  shed  his  working  attire, 
and  I  strode  on  toward  Fairmead,  leaving  Hudson  sitting 
among  his  furniture  and  kitchen  utensils  on  the  darkening 
prairie,  smoking  tranquilly.  The  stars  shone  out  when 
Harry  and  Aline  came  in  together.  Harry  looked  exultant, 
Aline  unusually  subdued,  and  the  first  thing  she  did  was, 
to  my  astonishment,  to  kiss  me. 

"  Aline  has  promised  to  marry  me  before  the  winter," 
said   Harry. 

Wishing  them  every  happiness  I  went  out  and  left  them. 
I  was  occupied  two  hours  over  some  badly  needed  repairs 
to  the  granary,  and  then  for  a  long  time  I  stood  under  the 
stars  thinking  of  Grace. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

A    BOUNTIFUL    HARVEST 

JJENCEFORWARD  Harry's  wooing,  like  my  own,  was 
conducted  in  an  intermittent  and  fragmentary  manner. 
But  little  time  was  left  us  for  dalliance  or  soft  speeches,  and 
we  paid  our  homage  in  practical  fashion,  with  axe  and  saw 
and  bridle,  for  there  was  truth  in  what  Harry  said :  "  The 
best  compliment  a  man  can  pay  a  woman  is  to  work  for  her 
comfort.  Still,  I  don't  know  that  more  leisure  for  other 
things  wouldn't  be  pleasant,  too.  There  is  more  in  life 
after  all   than  an  endless  round  of  sowing  and   reaping." 

Jasper  was  among  the  first  to  congratulate  him,  which 
he  did  so  heartily  that  I  concluded  that  he  had  stopped  his 
visits  in  time,  and  it  was  with  a  repetition  of  his  former 
kindness  that  he  added: 

"  You'll  need  to  rustle  this  season,  for  you've  plainly 
bitten  off  more  than  you  can  chew.  Still,  you've  friends 
on  the  prairie  who'll  see  you  through,  and  if  it's  horses  or 
men  or  money  you're  stuck  for,  I  guess  you  know  where 
to  find  them." 

We  borrowed  oxen,  we  borrowed  mowers,  we  hired  help 
everywhere,  and  somehow  paid  for  it,  while  by  dint  of  end- 
less planning  we  managed  to  avoid  an  overdraft  at  the  bank. 
Still,  I  lamed  Ormond's  hunter,  and  dawn  was  often  in  the 
sky  when  I  rode  home  from  the  Manor  to  begin  the  day's 
round  again  without  resting.  But  our  efforts  prospered,  and 
the  weather  favored  us,  while  Jasper  and  other  neighbors, 
including  some  from  Carrington,  helped  us  on  opportunity, 

375 


376      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

until  one  summer  day  I  rode  over  to  the  Manor  to  press  for 
a  decision.  I  hesitated  when  I  got  there,  for  I  was  heavy 
from  want  of  sleep  and  troubled  about  many  small  matters, 
and,  when  Grace  greeted  me,  she  looked  so  fresh  and 
tranquil  that  it  seemed  unfair  to  bring  the  stains  of  turmoil 
and  fierce  hurry  into  her  presence. 

"  You  are  tired,  poor  Ralph,"  she  said,  laying  a  cool  hand 
on  my  forehead  when  I  drew  her  down  beside  me.  "  The 
sun  has  darkened  you  to  the  color  of  a  Blackfoot.  You 
are  thin,  and  there  are  too  many  wrinkles  on  your  brow  — 
put  them  away  immediately.  I  wonder  whether  any  one 
would  recognize  in  you  the  fresh-faced  and  somewhat  callow 
strippling  with  whom  I  talked  about  the  Dominion  that  day 
on  Starcross  Moor.  It  is  not  so  very  long  ago,  and  yet  life 
has  greatly  changed  and  taught  us  much  since  then.  You 
must  not  be  vain  about  it,  but  I  really  think  I  prefer  you 
now." 

She  strove  to  avoid  my  answer,  which  was  an  active  one, 
and  then  settled  to  grave  attention  when  I  said :  "  You  were 
always  the  same,  Grace,  unequaled  among  women.  I  was 
very  raw  and  foolish,  but  you  have  helped  me,  and  experi- 
ence in  these  new  lands  teaches  even  fools.  Now,  how- 
ever, I  am  chiefly  lonely  —  and  Fairmead  is  waiting  for 
you. 

"  I  wish  to  know  my  duty,"  said  Grace.  "  I  still  think 
and  think  until  my  brain  grows  tired,  and  yet  I  cannot  see 
it  clearly.  As  I  told  the  others,  the  Manor  is  an  undesirable 
inheritance;  but  I  am  its  mistress,  and  it  brings  heavy 
charges  with  it,  a  load  of  debt  among  them,  which  it  would 
seem  cruel  to  leave  my  aunt  to  grapple  with.  If  we  sold  it 
there  would  be  nothing  left  for  her,  and  even  that  might 
not  be  possible  while  my  father  lives.  Ralph,  dear,  he  was 
once  very  kind  to  me,  and  it  is  hard  that  I  can  do  so  little 
to  help  him." 


A  BOUNTIFUL  HARVEST  377 

She  sighed,  and  looking  at  me  wearily  made  no  answer 
to  my  further  pleading,  until,  as  it  happened,  Miss  Car- 
rington,  preceded  by  a  very  awkward  Scandinavian  maid, 
entered  the  room  with  a  tray  on  which  was  placed  the 
Russian  tea  and  dainties  for  which  the  house  was  famous. 

"  You  looked  in  need  of  refreshment,  Ralph,  when  you 
came  in,"  she  said.  "  There  have  been  changes  at  the  Manor, 
but  we  have  not  forsaken  all  our  ancient  customs." 

She  was,  as  Aline  said,  "  a  dear  old  lady,"  sweet  of  face, 
yet  stately,  though  now  she  looked  careworn  too;  and  ris- 
ing I  bowed  respectfully,  as,  acting  under  one  of  those 
sudden  impulses  which  are  sometimes  better  than  judgment, 
I  said: 

"  I  hope  you  will  believe  that  no  one  regrets  the  changes 
more  than  I  do,  and  it  is  only  trusting  in  your  kindness 
that  I  venture  to  look  for  a  welcome  here.  There  cannot 
be  many  who  would  so  kindly  receive  one  who  even 
against  his  will  has  been  indirectly  connected  with  your 
troubles.  Besides,  I  have  been  abusing  your  generosity  fur- 
ther by  trying  to  persuade  Grace  to  desert  you,  and,  strangest 
of  all,  I  ask  you  to  help  me." 

Grace  blushed,  and  her  aunt  sat  silent  for  a  while. 

"  I  am  glad  you  told  me,"  she  then  answered  quietly, 
"  for  I  have  been  thinking  what  she  ought  to  do.  I  won- 
dered now  and  then  that  my  niece  did  not  ask  me,  and  I 
am  going  to  tell  my  thoughts  to  both  of  you.  There  is  a 
will  extant  leaving  her  this  property,  with  a  portion  to  me, 
but  it  will  be  a  long  struggle  to  free  the  land  from  its 
creditors,  and  my  poor  brother  may  live  as  he  is  for  years. 
He  has  been  mercifully  spared  all  further  anxiety,  and  I 
hope  that  he  will.  I  am  old,  and  my  day  has  long  gone 
by.  Grace  is  young,  with  the  world  before  her;  and  it  is 
neither  right  nor  necessary  that  she  should  put  away  all 
hope    of    happiness    indefinitely.     There    is    only    one    time 


378      LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

when  the  joy  of  life  is  more  real  than  its  sorrows.  With 
kinsman  Lyle's  counsel,  and  Foster  to  work  the  land,  I  can 
hold  the  Manor  and  care  for  my  brother,  and  for  both  to 
remain  here  would  be  a  useless  sacrifice.  So  if  you  love 
her,  as  I  believe  you  do,  it  is  right  that  you  should  enjoy 
together  what  is  sent  you.     Grace  should  go  to  you." 

I  had  passed  my  younger  days  among  a  homely  people, 
and  had  been  taught  little  except  what  I  learned  in  the 
silence  of  the  mountains  and  on  the  wide  prairie,  and  yet  I 
think  it  was  without  awkwardness  that  I  bent  over  Miss 
Carrington's  hand.  Speech  would  hardly  have  expressed 
the  gratitude  and  respect  I  felt,  while  I  recognize  now  that 
the  motive  of  the  action  was  in  her  and  not  in  me.  Then 
I  turned  to  her  niece  and  waited  with  longing  in  my  eyes 
until  Grace,  who  had  changed  to  her  softest  mood  and  was 
now  only  a  blushing  girl,  said  simply: 

"  You  have  made  it  easy,  Aunt.     Ralph,  I  will  come." 

"  That  is  right,"  said  Miss  Carrington.  "  Ralph,  you 
have  waited  patiently,  and  I  can  trust  you  to  be  kind  to 
her."  Then  she  smiled  upon  us  as  she  added :  "  If  not,  I 
take  my  brother's  place,  and  you  shall  answer  for  it.  There 
is  still  a  Carrington  at  the  Manor  holding  authority.  And 
so,  to  turn  to  the  practical,  if  either  of  you  can  consider 
such  prosaic  things  as  tea,  it  is  growing  cold  already,  and 
it  is  a  pity  to  waste  the  Carrington  tea." 

The  tea  was  not  wasted.  We  are  only  creatures  of  flesh 
and  blood,  thankful,  the  wiser  among  us,  for  the  transitory 
glimmer  of  romance  that  brightens  our  work-a-day  lot,  and 
gives  some  much-needed  strength  to  grapple  with  it,  and 
I  had  ridden  far  after  a  night  spent  in  the  open  and 
a  hard  morning's  work.  So  I  accepted  what  was  offered, 
and  found  it  delicious  to  rest  in  that  pretty  room,  where 
the  last  of  the  sunlight  sparkled  on  the  silver  and  lit  up 
the  sweet  face  of  the  lady  who  beamed  upon  us.     Again 


A  BOUNTIFUL  HARVEST  879 

it  seemed  almost  too  good  to  be  true,  and  hard  to  believe, 
that  victory  had  crowned  the  struggle,  while  even  as  I  bal- 
anced the  dainty  China  cup  it  reminded  me  of  the  battered 
kettle  from  which  we  filled  the  blackened  cans  in  a  British 
Columbian  camp.  There,  instead  of  embroidered  curtains, 
were  festoons  of  cedar  sprays,  biting  cold  and  acrid  wood- 
smoke  in  place  of  warmth  and  artistic  luxury,  and  I  knew 
that.  I  had  been  favored  greatly  —  for  though  many  strive, 
the  victory  is  to  the  few.  Still,  from  out  of  the  shadows  of 
the  somber  firs,  I  seemed  to  hear  our  partner  who  lay  among 
the  boulders  say:  "The  long,  long  road  has  a  turning, 
and  there  is  rest  at  last." 

Before  I  left  the  Manor  late  that  night  all  was  settled, 
for  when  I  pressed  for  an  early  conclusion  Grace,  yielding, 
said :  "I  am  not  afraid  of  poverty,  Ralph ;  and  if  it  comes 
we  will  lighten  it  by  each  bearing  half.  So  we  will  take 
the  risk  of  the  harvest  together,  for  if  I  share  in  your 
prosperity  I  must  also  take  my  share  in  the  hardship." 

I  did  not  get  home  to  Fairmead  until  the  next  day,  for 
I  nodded  in  the  saddle  until  I  could  not  see  the  way,  and 
several  times  nearly  fell  out  of  it,  and  when  the  tired  horse 
stopped  on  a  bluff  I  found  a  couch  in  withered  fern  and 
slept  there  soundly,  to  waken  long  after  sunrise,  wet  with 
dew.  That,  however,  was  a  trifling  matter  on  the  Western 
prairie,  because  the  man  who  loves  small  comforts  has  no 
business  there,  and  after  the  events  of  the  previous  day  dis- 
comfort was  nothing  to  me.  Dreams  seldom  trouble  the 
toiler  in  that  land;  and  when  I  stood  up  refreshed  under 
the  early  sunlight,  and  memory  returned,  the  wrorld  seemed 
filled  with  light  and  beauty  to  reflect  my  own  gladness. 
Ormond's  horse  was  cropping  the  grasses  not  far  away,  and 
when  I  caught  him  the  very  birch  leaves  rustled  joyfully 
under  their  tender  shimmering  green  as  we  rode  over  the 
bluff,  while  once  out  on   the  prairie  a  flight  of  sand-hill 


380       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

cranes  came  up  from  the  south,  calling  to  one  another, 
dazzling  blurs  of  whiteness  against  the  blue,  and  even  their 
hoarse  cry  seemed  to  ring  with  triumph. 

Aline  ran  out  to  meet  me  when  I  dismounted,  and  my 
mood  must  have  been  infectious,  for  she  smiled  as  she  greeted 
me. 

"  I  sent  Harry  to  scour  the  prairie  in  search  of  you,  for 
I  feared  you  must  have  been  dead  tired  and  the  horse  had 
fallen  in  a  ravine.  But  you  must  have  slept  among  the 
fairies,  Ralph,  and  risen  transfigured.  You  look  too  radiant 
for  my  serious  brother." 

It  was  after  hay-time,  and  the  wheat  was  tall  and  green, 
when  Grace  and  I  were  married  in  the  little  wooden  church 
at  Carrington,  and  every  man  in  the  settlement  rode  there 
in  her  train.  Few  princesses  of  royal  blood  ever  had  a  finer 
escort  than  hers,  and  she  came  in  state,  as  was  due  to  her 
—  for  Grace  was  a  prairie  princess  and  the  heiress  of  Car- 
rington. Perhaps  the  memory  of  what  had  happened  made 
her  subjects  doubly  anxious  to  show  their  loyalty;  while, 
remembering  who  I  was,  and  how  I  landed  in  that  country 
a  poor  emigrant,  once  more  I  found  it  hard  to  understand 
why  of  all  men  such  a  gift  had  been  bestowed  on  me. 

The  riders  of  Carrington  also  filled  one  room  at  the 
Manor  with  glittering  tokens  of  their  good-will  from 
Toronto  and  Montreal,  besides  such  useful  things  as  tools 
and  harness,  while  among  the  presents  lay  a  plain  letter  with 
a  black  border  which  Grace  and  I  read  together.  It  was 
from  Martin  Lorimer.  "  I  wish  you  both  many  blessings," 
it  ran,  "  and  knowing  your  foolish  way  of  thinking,  I  could 
not  send  the  present  I  wanted  to ;  but  you'll  take  this,  with 
an  old  man's  very  good  wishes.  It's  a  certificate  of  paid-up 
stock  in  the  new  Day  Spring  Mining  Company,  of  which 
Calvart  is  manager.  Sell  or  hold  as  pleases  you.  You'll 
find  a  market  —  for  already  Calvert's  sending  up  good  ore. 


A  BOUNTIFUL  HARVEST  381 

I  also  send  you  something  else  —  your  cousin  valued   it." 

Another  paper  fluttered  out  of  the  envelope,  and  my 
amusement  died  away  as  I  recognized  the  letter  I  had  given 
the  bankers  in  Winnipeg  when  I  drew  upon  the  loan. 

"  Of  all  the  gifts  I  value  this  from  poor  Alice  most,"  I 
said  a  little  huskily.  "  We  should  have  gone  under  without 
it,  and  perhaps  it  alone  helped  me  to  win  you.  Grace,  to 
both  of  us,  this  is  the  strangest  of  wedding  presents;  but 
what  shall  we  do  with  these  shares  in  the  Day  Spring  mine? 
They  represent  the  principal  portion  of  the  paid-up  capital." 

"  You  will  keep  them,"  Grace  said.  "  I  think  I  under- 
stand why  he  sent  them.  I  had  a  very  bitter  feeling  against 
your  uncle,  but  I  have  conquered  it.  The  past  is  never 
done  with,  and  it  may  be  that  what  my  father  toiled  for  and 
lost  will  come  to  his  daughter  in  its  own  way.  Ralph, 
there's  a  story  of  hope  and  struggle  and  sorrow  written 
between  every  line  on  either  paper." 

We  rode,  in  accordance  with  prairie  custom,  straight 
home  from  the  church,  for  Grace  was  no  longer  princess  of 
Carrington,  but  the  wife  of  a  struggling  farmer,  and  she  said 
that  until  the  harvest  was  gathered  there  must  be  no  honey- 
moon. Fairmead,  as  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  prairie  know, 
was  only  a  small  holding  hampered  by  lack  of  capital  when 
she  married  its  owner  and  forthwith  commenced  to  live  in 
strict  accordance  with  her  adopted  station.  We  hoped  to 
improve  that  station,  but  this  depended  on  the  crops  and  the 
weather,  and  the  heavens  continued  to  favor  us  that  year. 
Seldom  had  there  been  such  grass  for  cattle  or  such  a  yield 
of  wheat.  No  acre  returned  less  than  its  twenty  bushels, 
and  many  nearer  forty;  while  Grace,  who  drove  the  first 
binder  into  the  tall  yellow  stems  and  worked  on  through 
the  rush  and  dust  of  harvest  and  thrashing,  rejoiced  as  she 
said  she  had  never  done  when  all  was  safely  gathered  in. 

Then  Harry  and  Aline  were  married  and  settled  in  Hud- 


382       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

son's  dwelling;  and  one  evening  toward  the  close  of  the 
Indian  summer,  when  our  work  was  done  at  last  we  drove 
slowly  down  the  long  incline  away  from  Fairmead.  A 
maple  flamed  red  on  the  bluff,  the  birch  leaves  were  golden ; 
but  the  prairie  was  lone  and  empty,  save  for  a  breadth  of 
tall  stubble,  and  there  was  neither  a  sack  in  the  granary 
nor  a  beast  in  a  stall.  Harry  had  taken  the  working  cat- 
tle, while  the  stock  were  traveling  eastward  across  the  ocean 
and  the  wheat  lay  piled  in  the  elevators  or  had  been  ground 
already  into  finest  flour.  But  the  result  of  our  labors  was 
bearing  interest,  and  would  do  so  until  spring,  in  the  shape 
of  a  balance  at  the  Bank  of  Montreal.  Each  venture  had 
succeeded,  and  evidence  was  not  wanting  that  at  last  we 
were  being  carried  smoothly  forward  on  the  flood-tide  of 
prosperity;  and  so  with  thankful  hearts  we  prepared  to 
enjoy  a  well-earned  holiday  in  the  older  cities  of  eastern 
Canada. 

The  garish  light  died  out  as  we  passed  the  last  of  the 
stubble,  which  grew  dusky  behind  us,  the  stars  that  shone 
forth  one  by  one  glimmered  frostily,  and  silence  closed  down 
on  the  prairie,  while  the  jingle  of  harness  and  the  groaning 
of  wheels  recalled  the  day  I  had  first  driven  across  it. 
Grace,  too,  seemed  lost  in  reverie,  for  presently  she  said: 

"  Another  year's  work  ended,  and  the  bounteous  harvest 
in.  Ralph,  why  is  it  that  happiness  brings  with  it  a  tinge 
of  melancholy,  and  that  out  of  our  present  brightness  we 
look  back  to  the  shadows  of  other  days?  I  have  been 
thinking  all  day  of  curious  things  and  people  we  knew  —  our 
first  dance  at  Lone  Hollow,  of  Geoffrey  Ormond  and  your 
cousin.  They  all  played  their  part  in  giving  us  what  we 
now  enjoy." 

I  cracked  the  whip,  stirring  the  horses  into  a  quicker 
pace,  and,  slipping  one  arm  around  her,  I  said :  "  It  is  not 
those  who  work  or  suffer  most  who  are  always  rewarded 


A  BOUNTIFUL  HARVEST 

as  they  would  hope  to  be;  and,  as  Johnston  once  said,  the 
fallen  have  done  great  things.  But  we  will  look  forward. 
You  made  true  forecasts  that  night  at  Lone  Hollow,  and  no 
fairer  witch  ever  came  out  of  Lancashire.  So  look  again 
deep  into  the  future,  and  tell  me  what  you  see.,, 

Grace  laughed,  and  nestled  closer  to  me  under  the  furs, 
for  the  nights  were  chilly,  before  she  answered :  "  There 
are  compensations,  and  one  cannot  have  everything,  so  I  lost 
the  gift  of  prophecy  when  a  better  one  came  to  me  —  and, 
Ralph,  it  came  that  very  night  at  the  Hollow,  I  think. 
Instead,  I  will  tell  you  what  I  hope  to  see.  First,  you 
faithful  to  your  task,  as  faithful  to  me,  laying  together  acre 
on  acre  and  adding  crop  to  crop  until  the  possessions  of 
Fairmead  are  greater  than  Carrington.  But  even  before 
this  comes  —  and  come,  I  think,  it  will  —  we  will  try  to 
remember  that  we  are  but  stewards,  and  that  possession 
brings  its  duties.  My  father  was  a  keen  sportsman,  and  I, 
too,  love  a  horse  and  gun,  but  we  thought  too  much  of 
pleasure  at  Carrington.  We  will  fling  our  doors  wide  open 
to  the  English  poor  —  there  are  no  poor  in  the  Dominion 
like  the  English  poor  —  and  share  with  the  needy  the  har- 
vests that  are  granted  us.  I  have  been  thinking  often  of 
your  helper,  Lee,  and  as  a  beginning  he  could  send  you  two 
families  in  the  spring  —  we  have  room  for  them.  And  so, 
Ralph,  if  you  will  humor  me  in  this  I  shall  never  be  sorry 
to  preside  over  Fairmead  instead  of  Carrington." 

"  I  will,"  I  answered  simply ;  but  she  seemed  content 
with  the  answer,  and  asked  for  no  further  assurance  as  we 
drove  on  through  the  night.  No  one  could  laugh  more 
joyously  than  Grace,  or  cast  about  her  flashes  of  brighter 
humor;  but  we  had  just  completed  an  arduous  task  whose  re- 
ward was  greater  almost  than  we  dared  hope,  and  our 
gladness  was  too  great  to  find  expression  in  merriment. 

On   reaching  the   Elktail  station   I   was  handed   a   tele- 


384*       LORIMER  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

gram  from  Calvert  which  had  lain  there  some  time  await- 
ing an  opportunity  for  delivery.  It  was  brief,  but  reas- 
suring. 

"  Great  news.  Bottomed  on  rich  ore  at  last.  Day 
Spring  stock  cent,  per  cent,  premium.  Don't  sell.  Look- 
ing for  surprising  dividends." 

"  This  is  the  beginning,"  said  Grace.  "  Some  day  all 
the  rest  will  come." 

And  then,  with  a  blast  of  the  whistle  and  the  lighted 
cars  clashing  as  they  lurched  up  out  of  the  prairie,  the  At- 
lantic express  rolled  in  and  bore  us  east  to  enjoy  our  belated 
honeymoon. 

Grace's  prediction  was  fulfilled,  for  although  we  had 
reverses  we  prospered  from  that  day,  and  there  are  now 
few  farms  anywhere  on  the  wide  grass-lands  between  Win- 
nipeg and  Regina,  to  compare,  either  in  area  or  fertility, 
with  Fairmead,  while  the  flour  made  from  our  wheat  is 
spread  across  the  breadth  of  Europe.  And  better  than  lands 
and  stock  is  the  content  and  peace  that  came  to  me  through 
Grace's  companionship. 


THE    END 


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